OFW Party List Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino delivered a privilege speech on Monday in the House of Representatives on the party list’s advocacy on good governance as an antidote for corruption.
In her privilege speech, the party list lawmaker stressed that corruption afflicts many aspects of the nation’s civic and political life. In 2022, the Philippines ranked 116th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, or CPI, which assesses the perceived levels of public sector corruption around the world. This puts the Philippines at the bottom half of least corrupt countries.
“Corruption undermines economic development and corrodes our institutions, which are supposed to foment development that would allow for wider opportunities for our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) here in the country, instead of toiling abroad.
To combat corruption, the OFW Party List Rep. Marissa ‘Del Mar” Magsino cited the need to incorporate policies and mechanisms of good governance in government institutions. Good governance requires inclusive policies, consensus-building, fair legal frameworks, transparent processes, participatory decision-making, and efficiency and accountability in civil servants.
“Good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its entirety. However, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality, if we are to possess a potent weapon against corruption in the country” said Magsino.
Magsino acknowledges that the government has taken strides in reforming its institutions, particularly the Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCS). These have been notoriously controversial in the past in awarding excessive bonuses and other unjustified incentives to their officials and employees. OFWs who often deal with GOCCS, particularly SSS, Philhealth, and Pag-Ibig Fund, have also complained of “red tape” and tedious processes in these government instrumentalities.
In 2011, Republic Act No. 10149 was enacted creating the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) with a declared policy of ensuring that the governance of GOCCs is carried out in a transparent, responsible and accountable manner and with the utmost degree of professionalism and effectiveness. In response to the irregularities of the past, limits to compensation, per diems, allowances and incentives of GOCC officials and personnel were imposed, and incentives were only be granted once the GOCC has fully paid all taxes for which it is liable, and the GOCC has declared and paid all the dividends required to be paid under its charter or any other laws.
Magsino highlighted that good governance and less corruption in the various echelons of the government will improve the delivery of welfare assistance and benefits for the families of OFWs they leave behind, providing our OFWs a greater peace of mind and sense of confidence as they toil abroad. This will also weed out corrupt government employees who prey upon OFWs by conniving with illegal recruiters and human traffickers.
