First EU-backed anti-graft project launched
Iloilo -- Government and church officials yesterday launched the first European Union-backed project in the Philippines aimed against graft and corruption.
EU representative Virginie Lafleur-Tigue, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, who is also president of the highly-influential Catholic Bishops"' Conference of the Philippines, and OIC Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago graced the launching of the People"'s Participation in Graft and Corruption Prevention Project yesterday morning at the Archbishop"'s Palace in Jaro.
John Joseph Cordova of the People"'s Graftwatch of Iloilo Incorporated told The News Today that the EU, through its Small Projects Facility, extended their group a grant amounting to "P3 million more or less" for the implementation of the project.
The program will be for 12 months, staring January 3 this year, until December 31, 2006, Cordova added. "But there is the possibility that the project will be extended."
The project has one pilot town for each of the Province"'s fiveislative districts: Igbaras for the 1st district; Sta. Barbara for the 2nd district; Cabatuan for the 3rd district; Dumangas for the 4th district; and Barotac Viejo for the 5th district. Cordova said that these towns were chosen because they have active Corruption Prevention Units (CPUs).
The project, he explain, will improve their group"'s capability in investigating, prosecuting and monitoring of graft cases filed against erring public officials.
"The project is the only one of its kind in the country," Cordova said.
Monsignor Meliton Oso, chair of the PGII, added that the EU will have nothing to do at all with their activities.
"The assistance they extended is limited only to financial aid," he stressed.
The PGII will also be conducting speaker"'s bureau training and action planning workshops, which will map out their strategy in minimizing and eradicating graft and corruption.
In her address, Tigue said that the assistance is their way of extending anti-poverty aid.
"This is our contribution to the Medium Term Development Plan of reducing poverty by 2015," she said. "We are proud to see the launching of the project. We are glad to see the dream materialize."
She added that corruption undermines political institutions and increases the cost of doing business in the country.
Santiago, for her part, encouraged citizens to exercise utmost vigilance against corruption, as she noted that graft and corruption has become a way of life. She also inducted the PGII"'s 17 board of trustees.