Anti-corruption roadshow takes off in Iloilo
A first of its kind roadshow of anti-corruption initiatives will be launched on 24-26 July 2007 at the Renewal House, La Paz, Iloilo City in partnership with the People's Graft Watch of Iloilo, Inc. and CODE-NGO Iloilo. Fifty organizations and coalitions will be present in the grand assembly of exchanging various tools to strategically fight corruption.
The event will showcase seven anti-corruption tools developed by members of the Transparency and Accountability Network, namely: Textbook Count by the Ateneo School of Government- Government Watch; PDAF Watch by CODE- NGO; Procurement Observing by Procurement Watch, Inc.; Medicines Monitoring by Coalition Against Corruption; Road Projects Monitoring by Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government; Data Collection by Social Weather Station; and Lifestyle Check by TAN Operations Team.
The National Anti-Corruption Roadshow aims to generate deeper and wider participation from civil society organizations nationwide in anti-corruption work and thereby create greater impact in the fight against corruption.
Leading the local efforts to address the problem of corruption is Iloilo Graft Watch, a network of Social Action Centers of the Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo. "We are happy to be partnering with the Transparency and Accountability Network, and others in empowering the citizens,including the catholic church, to demand better government through greater transparency and accountability," declared Monsignor Dodong Oso, President of Iloilo Graft Watch, Inc.,during his welcome remarks.
"Most of TAN's efforts have been concentrated in Metro Manila and have not gone much
beyond its own members. This is why TAN is embarking on a three-city, nationwide roadshow, partnering with Iloilo Graft Watch here in Iloilo. This roadshow is an opportunity for the TAN members and partners to share with other CSOs, NGOs and POs the tools that they have developed, and to learn from the partner organizations in the region about their anti-corruption tools and initiatives." said Mr. Vincent Lazatin, Executive Director of the Transparency and Accountability Network.
"This gathering is significant. Finally, civil society can fight back. With these series of trainings, ordinary citizens and citizens organizations will be armed with the tools necessary to attack the cancer of corruption and get the clean, honest and efficient government they deserve." he added.
"Government cannot fight corruption alone. The stakeholders for good governance, thecitizens themselves, should be empowered to exact transparency and accountability in government. We laud the efforts of civil society organization like TAN, Iloilo Graft Watch and Iloilo CODE NGO and all their partners, for complementing the efforts of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission in battling corruption," said Chairperson Constancia de Guzman of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.
Anti-corruption experts and known advocates will be present in the event, which include among others: Vincent T. Lazatin, Executive Director, Transparency and Accountability Network; Dr. Koni De Guzman, Chairperson, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission; Msgr. Dodong Oso
President, People's Graftwatch of Iloilo, Inc.; Dr. Segundo Romero, Fellow, Development Academy of the Philippines; Linda Luz Guerrero, Vice President, Social Weather Stations;
Heidi Mendoza, Philippine Development Forum; Moira Enerva, World Bank Knowledge Development Center.