December 9 marks the commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) and as part of the observance, the Office of the Ombudsman is holding a conference entitled “SIKHAY LABAN SA KORAPSYON (SiLaK): A Development Strategy Towards a Prosperous, Inclusive, Resilient and Corruption-Intolerant Society,” with the participation of various stakeholders and civil society organizations. The SiLaK initiative is the Office of the Ombudsman’s collaborative advocacy platform to facilitate data-driven policy development and strategic innovations in the anti-corruption sector. It is an abbreviation for “Sikhay Laban sa Korapsyon,” a Filipino phrase which means ‘assiduity and diligence in the fight against corruption.’
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is considered a breakthrough for anti-corruption efforts as it highlights the explicit link between corruption and sustainable development. The Philippines has already embedded the Sustainable Development Goals into our national development agenda and the Office of the Ombudsman recognizes the need to ensure that anti-corruption strategies are purposefully integrated into this framework to accelerate the achievement of these goals, creating a virtuous cycle where anti-corruption efforts fuel the national development.
Towards this end, this year’s SiLaK is focused on knowledge sharing and exchange of public institution’s best practices and lessons learned in integrating innovative anti-corruption strategies to deliver the mandated services. Reiterating the objectives of the annual SiLaK as a research and advocacy platform, it specifically aims to (1) strengthen linkages between development and anti-corruption stakeholders towards an innovative, sustainable, inclusive and transformative roadmap to end corruption; (2) develop an information technology enabled systematic knowledge repository and exchange facilities of anti-corruption studies, experience and best practices; (3) promote data-driven policy development and management to promote integrity and fight corruption; and (4) sustain gender mainstreaming in policy-oriented discourse to combat corruption.
As one of the highlights of the celebration, the Ombudsman will hold its bi-annual HIP Awards, a simple, multi-sectoral initiative that aims to recognize random but exemplary acts of Honesty, Integrity and Public Accountability. The HIP Awards is envisioned as an enabling tool in transforming ordinary citizens, through their seeds of exemplary acts, into champions of cornerstone Filipino values of honesty, integrity and accountability, or “katapatan, karangalan, at kahusayan sa pananagutan.” This year’s batch of awardees have displayed exemplary acts and considered citizen-centric. It may be considered random, selfless and/or exemplary part of their ordinary routine but can be perceived with innate propensity to conduct their business consistent with public service or common good which can also meet or exceed public expectations for anyone as a citizen.
(Please click this link to see the list of HIP Year-end awardees)
In his keynote message, Ombudsman Samuel Martires remarked “this fight requires more than policies, it demands genuine collaboration among government agencies, civil society and the private sector. It requires every Filipino to embody the values of honesty, fairness, and justice in their daily lives. Let us continue to build a nation where public trust is upheld, governance is exemplary, and corruption is never tolerated.”
The 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that the cooperation and involvement of the citizenry and institutions can overcome the negative impact of this crime. States, government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth, all have a role to play in uniting the world against corruption. ##
Public Information and Media Relations Bureau
Email: mediaaffairs@ombudsman.gov.ph
