PRESS RELEASE

09 December 2009

OMBUDSMAN COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY

The Multi-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Council (MSACC) of the Philippines led by the Office of the Ombudsman will conduct today a series of activities at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day every December 9^th, as designated by the United Nations.

The commemoration, with the theme “Leadership in Governance Reforms: Setting the Tone at the Top,” will be highlighted by a presentation from selected national government agencies and local government units on the status of anti-corruption reforms they are presently implementing.

The presentation of reforms, to be held at 8:00 a.m. today, will be led by Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary David J. Lozada Jr.; Customs Deputy Commissioner Alexander M. Arevalo; Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina; and Marikina Mayor Marides C. Fernando.

A panel of reactors will observe the presentations, composed of Acting Chairman Cesar D. Buenaflor of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commissioner Juanito G. Espino Jr. of the Commission on Audit (COA); and 1-UTAK Partylist Representative Vigor D. Mendoza II.

A synthesis will also be presented by Dr. Grace G. Jamon, Dean of the Institute of Public Management of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and President of the Association of Schools of Public Administration of the Philippines (ASPAP).

For its part, MSACC members from the civil society and private sectors will launch today “Barangay Kamalayan, Dagdag Kaalaman” (BARKADA KA) Project, which aims to raise citizen’s awareness and consciousness regarding the need to pro-actively prevent and combat corruption.

Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez and Director Edsel C. Naguit of the Evelio B. Javier Foundation, Inc. will lead the launching of BARKADA KA.

BARKADA, which roughly translates to “a group of friends” and “KA,” which means “you,” seek to foster this type of close-knit, family-type relationship amongst sectors struggling against corruption, particularly at the local community level.

Under the BARKADA KA project, participatory dialogues will be conducted with various sectors at pilot barangays in the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to discuss the services being provided by MSACC and how the people can avail of them.  Plans, programs, and activities tackling the problem of corruption shall also be discussed, and convergence activities shall be mapped out in order for all sectors in the barangay to share in the stake in the fight against corruption.

In addition, a massive awareness campaign shall be undertaken utilizing the most popular platforms and mediums available nowadays, including radio programs, e-mail blasts, Facebook and other Web Networking Platforms.

The activities will be capped by a Balloon Flying Ceremony representing the lofty goals and purity of purpose of the MSACC, which is to converge all anti-corruption efforts and reorient the Philippines into a corruption-intolerant society that values and practices a culture of integrity.

          Similar program of activites will be conducted by MSACC Mindanao and Visayas Chapters.##