Corruption is defined as the misuse or abuse of public office for private gain both in government and the private sector. It comes in several illicit forms including bribery, extortion, fraud, nepotism, graft, speed money, pilferage, theft, falsification of records,influence peddling and campaign contributions.

   The consequences of corruption are the following: a) impedes economic growth; b) worsens income inequity and poverty; c) damages political legitimacy and stunts democracy; d) endangers public order and safety; and e) results in bureaucratic inefficiency and demoralization.

   This chapter presents the accomplishments of the regional line agencies (RLAs), local government units (LGUs), academe and the private sector towards the elimination/reduction of graft and corrupt practices in the region. The following were the accomplishments relative to the regional strategies for anti-corruption.

Strategy: Develop regional line agencies into globally competitive line agencies/offices by reducing training costs of government-sponsored trainings, instituting mechanisms to ensure additional value through learning programs, and issuing certificates only to deserving participants, i.e., those who pass end-of-training exams.

• The City Government of Legazpi coordinated and synchronized its office adaptability building activities toward reducing costs of trainings conducted by line agencies/LGUs.

• The City Government of Sorsogon invited trainers to conduct training in the city rather than sending delegates to other places.

• The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte conducted Values Orientation Workshop  (VOW) to 29 provincial government officials and employees.

• The Civil Service Commission (CSC) offered Distance Learning Program (DLP) to those employees who wished to attend trainings at their convenient time without being absent from work or for those agencies who could not afford to send them at one time.

• The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) implemented cost-cutting measures during trainings.

• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 strictly implemented Mandatory Training Program by considering seniority and other qualifications, and formulate/implement Police Occupational Specialty.

• The Regional Training Management of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 5 adopted the adult learning method in most of its training activities to harness participants' active involvement and participation in the learning process.  The BAC was institutionalized to handle the administrative requirements of the training program.

• The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 jointly conducted local seminars and trainings with other line agencies and LGUs.

• The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte recognized outstanding performance of its employees by awarding the province’s Outstanding Officials/Employees – as part of its activities for the Civil Service month Celebration.

• The City Government of Sorsogon conducted Public Service Excellence Ethics and Accountability Programs which was sponsored by Asia Foundation and British Embassy.

Strategy:  Prosecute any individual who engages in bribery/corrupt practices.

• The City Government of Legazpi filed administrative case against erring barangay officials before the Sangguniang Panlungsod/Ombudsman.

• The City Government of Sorsogon terminated its employees from the service who were found guilty of committing illegal/corrupt practices.

• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 created LOI 44/06 “Honesty Teams” headed by the Deputy Regional Director for Operation to enhance the anti-corruption campaign of the PNP and to weed out erring PNP personnel engaged in extortion activities.

• The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 strictly implemented RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act) and monitored illegal activities and misbehavior of PNP members.

• The Partido Development Administration (PDA) put in place their internal guidelines to address the issue.

Strategy:  Eliminate counter-productive values of Filipinos in fighting graft and corruption.

• The City Government of Legazpi included a Moral Recovery Program in the capability building activities of local officials and functionaries.

• The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) did not tolerate counter-productive values like nepotism.

• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 included anti-corruption plan in all police courses/seminars as part of the Police Information and Education Program.

• The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 provided seminars and lectures on moral values to student's organizations.

Strategy:  Develop a clientele-based award system to address graft and corrupt practices both in government and private sectors.

• The City Government of Legazpi and Sorsogon gave award/incentives to deserving LGU officials and functionaries and peace and order officers.

• The Civil Service Commission (CSC) “Mamamayan Muna Program” provided recognition both to government agencies and employees for satisfactory service to their clients.

• The Awards and Recognition Board of the Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 conducted regular weekly deliberations to avoid delay in granting awards and decorations to deserving PNP personnel. 

• The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 granted meritorious promotion to PNP members and recognized NGO and People's Organizations (POs) participation by giving certificates of appreciation. 

Strategy:  Eliminate/Reduce graft and corruption through:

Increased transparency and accountability of all purchases, programs and projects, disbursement/utilization of official funds, property and equipment.

• The BAC members (city/barangay levels) of the City Government of Legazpi, Partido Development Administration (PDA) and Bicol University (BU) strictly complied with RA 9184 (Procurement Act).

• To increase the transparency and accountability of all purchases, the City Government of Sorsogon centralized its procurement process.

• The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) followed the provisions in RA 9184 and formed a new Bids and Awards Committee.

• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 established the PNP Procurement Monitoring Information System (PPMIS).

Strict implementation/enforcement of the CSC regulations and the Code of Conduct of public officials and employees.

• The Partido Development Administration (PDA), City Government of Sorsogon, National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 and Bicol University (BU) strictly implemented the new CSC rules and regulations and code of conduct.

• The Department Heads with the LCE of the City Government of Legazpi conducted regular meetings to ensure compliance with CSC regulations by LGU personnel and observance of RA 6713.

• The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte issued Memorandum to concerned employees/officials on the strict implementation of CSC rules and regulations.

• The Civil Service Commission Legal Services Division acted on 490 cases both disciplinary and non-disciplinary of public officials and employees. The office continued its implementation of the Mamamayan Muna Program to instill courteous and efficient service among government agencies.

• The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) conducted a seminar on Code of Conduct and posted on the school bulletin board the CSC Memorandum on the behavior and conduct of employees.

• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 conducted extensive dissemination and internalization of existing PNP Code of Conduct, Policies, Plans and Programs.

• The Provincial Government of Catanduanes installed a biometric machine at the lobby of the building to monitor the Daily Time Record (DTR) of every employee in the provincial government.

Strict monitoring of the implementation of government projects by strengthening the Project Monitoring Committees and reporting violations committed thereof and/or to provide solution to implementation problems.

• The Project Monitoring Committees of the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte and of Legazpi City monitored national/local development projects and provided feedbacks to the Local Development Council (LDC)and the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC).

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• The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT), Partido Development Administration (PDA) and Bicol University (BU) conducted periodic monitoring of its projects.

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• All projects of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 were strictly monitored by the Regional Monitoring and Coordinating Committee (RMCC).

Encourage the participation of NGOs/POs, Academe, and Church-based organizations (e.g. Citizen's Movement Against Corruption) in solving graft and corrupt practices.

• The Partido Development Administration (PDA), City Government of Sorsogon and Bicol University encouraged the participation of external organizations in the office programs/projects/activities.

• The City Government of Legazpi, through the Executive Order issued by the LCE, institutionalized the membership of NGOs/POs, academe, church-based organizations to local special bodies such as the LHB, LSB, LDC, PLEB.

• The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) encouraged external organizations to evaluate transparency in the implementation of major projects within the school.

• The Philippine National Police (PNP)5 encouraged citizens to report complaints thru PNP TEXT 2920, PATROL 117 and other various means of communication.

•  The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 tapped the religious sector in the strengthening of the spiritual life of its employees and participated in various activities and outreach education.

Conduct of regular meetings/briefing/dialogues with LGU officials regarding anti-corruption measures.

• The Partido Development Administration (PDA) conducted informal talks with the LGUs within their jurisdiction through board meetings regarding anti-corruption measures.

• The City Government of Legazpi conducted regular department head meetings every Monday with the LCE to discuss preventive measures to combat corruption.

• The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte conducted dialogues/issues on anti-corruption measures with the LGUs.

• The City Government of Sorsogon conducted dialogues/issues on anti-corruption measures with the employees.

• The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 5 undertook advocacy campaigns to LGU officials, particularly to the newly-elected officials (NEO), during the conduct of the region wide briefings-orientations.

• The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 held regular meetings with its employees to remind the latter of their obligations, accountabilities and responsibilities as government employees.

Strategy:  Establish an area-coordinating center as a tool for monitoring graft and corruption. 

• The City Government of Legazpi established a complaint desk with the Office of the Mayor, as well as assigned an Officer-of-the Day in every Department.

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• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 created the PNP Task Force Anti-Kotong (LOI 05/05) to check PNP personnel engaged in extortion activities locally referred to as “Kotong”, “Hulidap” and other forms of illegal activities.

Strategy:  Provide a hot line number for reporting graft and corruption directly to the prosecuting agency.

 

• The City Government of Legazpi undertook close coordination with the Prosecutor's Office/DOLE, OWWA and other agencies to combat graft and corruption. 

• The City Government of Sorsogon aired a radio program “Test Mo, Read Ko” segment for reporting graft and corruption. 

• The Bicol University provided suggestion boxes in strategic locations to facilitate the monitoring of graft and corruption in the school premises. 

• The Philippine National Police (PNP) 5 established the PNP TEXT 2920, PNP Hotline 722-0650 (Complaints and Referral Action Center) and PNP TEXT Anti-Kotong Projects. 

• The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 5 disseminated its office landline phone numbers to all LGUs for easy access and reporting of police anomalies and misbehavior. 

• The Bicol University (BU) disseminated office contact numbers for reporting graft and corrupt practices committed by its employees.

   Significant Events and Developments

   The City Government of Legazpi earned numerous Recognition/Awards, to wit:  a) 2007 Most Friendly LGU in Southern Luzon Area – LGU Category (PCCI);    b) 2007 Kabalikat Award, Regional and National – LGU Category (TESDA); c) 2007 Most Outstanding Public Employment Office (PESO) in the Bicol Region; d) 3^rd Place, Most Outstanding Peace and Order Council in the Philippines – LGU Category; and (e) Knock-Out Tigdas Award conducted by Center for Health Development (CHD) Bicol.