Philippines seen as most corrupt Asian economy--survey

[lightning099]

(From inquirer.net)

SINGAPORE -- The Philippines is perceived by foreign businessmen as Asia's most corrupt economy, according to a survey Tuesday that also found countries were failing properly to tackle corruption.

Singapore and Hong Kong were seen as the cleanest economies, while China, Indonesia and Vietnam posted improvements, the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said in a summary made available to AFP.

Perception of corruption in Thailand worsened, with the military junta now in power after last September's coup seen as little better than the government it ousted.

"The Philippines has the distinction of being perceived in the worst light this year," PERC said after polling 1,476 expatriate business executives in 13 countries and territories across the region in January and February.

In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, the Philippines got 9.40, worsening sharply from its grade of 7.80 last year. Indonesia had been deemed Asia's most corrupt country in 2006.

PERC, which provides advice to private firms and governments, said it had not noted a worsening in the actual situation in the Philippines despite its deteriorating score.

"It is bad and has been bad all along. People are just growing tired of the inaction and insincerity of leading officials when they promise to fight corruption," it said.

The protracted corruption trial of deposed president Joseph Estrada "is an example of the problem and probably explains why respondents to our survey were so negative in their assessment" of the country.

Thailand and Indonesia, both on a grade of 8.03, shared the spot as Asia's second most corrupt nations.

Thailand's image worsened slightly on last year while Indonesia's score was better.

The junta that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra as Thailand's prime minister last September promised to fight corruption "but there is no reason to be confident that its behavior will be any cleaner," PERC said.

On Indonesia, PERC said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's campaign to crack down on corruption has "produced some positive results, but he is still swimming against the current."

The rankings of the 13 economies put Malaysia mid-table, marginally worse than last year.

"One of the big disappointments for many Malaysians is that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not been able or willing to follow through effectively with his campaign promise to reduce corruption," PERC said.

China and Vietnam bettered their scores, but PERC said that the improved perception was because corruption was not being discussed openly.

"The media in both China and Vietnam is subject to tight censorship. The only bad news the governments want published is news that they see fit for public consumption," it said.

China was the seventh most corrupt nation, according to the survey table, up two places from last year. Vietnam was in 10th place out of 13, also up two.

India was in ninth place. PERC said the Indian government must accelerate reforms, warning that corruption can limit companies' expansion plans.

Singapore again just beat regional rival Hong Kong as the cleanest economy, although the latter posted a sharp improvement from its image in 2006.

PERC's managing director Robert Broadfoot told AFP this might have resulted from a perception that "the differences between Hong Kong and (mainland) China are even starker now."

Singapore is becoming increasingly vulnerable to corruption elsewhere, the PERC report said, citing the soured investment by state-linked investment firm Temasek Holdings in Thai telecom giant Shin Corp.

The tax-free sale of Shin Corp. to Temasek by the Thaksin family fuelled the political crisis that led to the military taking power in Thailand.

Another problem, the report added, is that foreigners "who have profited from corruption elsewhere in Asia sometimes seek a haven for their ill-gotten gains" in Singapore, where rich Indonesian families hold massive assets.

[oldblue]

this is actually good news for moneyed foreigners.

[uls]

haha... most corrupt?

Basta gumagastos ka ng malaking pera dito (like putting up a business) OR pag kumikita ka ng malaki (like the business u put up is making tons of money), mapapansin ng tao... sigurado there will be people who want a piece of the action. From barangay level, to city hall, to even the highest places in govt (depending on the amount ur spending).

that's the way it is here. so foreigners should get used to it.

things are not gonna change anytime soon. it's too deeprooted.

it's almost like...culture. wait... it IS culture.

haha

[Syuryuken]

Nakakaawa na talaga ang bansang Pilipinas Kelan kaya mawawala o mabawasan man lang ang mga kurakot na pulitiko at mga government employees.

[theveed]

Ang lagay eh.....

hehehe...

[hagiber]

Hindi na nakayanan ng Philippines ibribe ang Indonesia to take the top spot... hehe

[Camgen6]

(From inquirer.net)

SINGAPORE -- The Philippines is perceived by foreign businessmen as Asia's most corrupt economy, according to a survey Tuesday that also found countries were failing properly to tackle corruption.

Singapore and Hong Kong were seen as the cleanest economies, while China, Indonesia and Vietnam posted improvements, the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said in a summary made available to AFP.

Perception of corruption in Thailand worsened, with the military junta now in power after last September's coup seen as little better than the government it ousted.

"The Philippines has the distinction of being perceived in the worst light this year," PERC said after polling 1,476 expatriate business executives in 13 countries and territories across the region in January and February.

In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, the Philippines got 9.40, worsening sharply from its grade of 7.80 last year. Indonesia had been deemed Asia's most corrupt country in 2006.

PERC, which provides advice to private firms and governments, said it had not noted a worsening in the actual situation in the Philippines despite its deteriorating score.

"It is bad and has been bad all along. People are just growing tired of the inaction and insincerity of leading officials when they promise to fight corruption," it said.

The protracted corruption trial of deposed president Joseph Estrada "is an example of the problem and probably explains why respondents to our survey were so negative in their assessment" of the country.

Thailand and Indonesia, both on a grade of 8.03, shared the spot as Asia's second most corrupt nations.

Thailand's image worsened slightly on last year while Indonesia's score was better.

The junta that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra as Thailand's prime minister last September promised to fight corruption "but there is no reason to be confident that its behavior will be any cleaner," PERC said.

On Indonesia, PERC said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's campaign to crack down on corruption has "produced some positive results, but he is still swimming against the current."

The rankings of the 13 economies put Malaysia mid-table, marginally worse than last year.

"One of the big disappointments for many Malaysians is that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not been able or willing to follow through effectively with his campaign promise to reduce corruption," PERC said.

China and Vietnam bettered their scores, but PERC said that the improved perception was because corruption was not being discussed openly.

"The media in both China and Vietnam is subject to tight censorship. The only bad news the governments want published is news that they see fit for public consumption," it said.

China was the seventh most corrupt nation, according to the survey table, up two places from last year. Vietnam was in 10th place out of 13, also up two.

India was in ninth place. PERC said the Indian government must accelerate reforms, warning that corruption can limit companies' expansion plans.

Singapore again just beat regional rival Hong Kong as the cleanest economy, although the latter posted a sharp improvement from its image in 2006.

PERC's managing director Robert Broadfoot told AFP this might have resulted from a perception that "the differences between Hong Kong and (mainland) China are even starker now."

Singapore is becoming increasingly vulnerable to corruption elsewhere, the PERC report said, citing the soured investment by state-linked investment firm Temasek Holdings in Thai telecom giant Shin Corp.

The tax-free sale of Shin Corp. to Temasek by the Thaksin family fuelled the political crisis that led to the military taking power in Thailand.

Another problem, the report added, is that foreigners "who have profited from corruption elsewhere in Asia sometimes seek a haven for their ill-gotten gains" in Singapore, where rich Indonesian families hold massive assets.

Huh ok? but what's new?

[GasJunkie]

...



:fly:

[pyeh!]

as expected!:doh:

as long as hindi nababago ang political system natin...palubog na tayo ng palubog! imagine ung mga nakaupo sa pinaka mababang position in goverment (barangay officials, sanguniang kabataan etc.) corrupt na. pano pa ung mga nasa highier positions?! hay grabe na to!!! puro sila TRAPO!

[oliver1013]

Corrupt Juan number one
CTALK By Cito Beltran
The Philippine Star 03/16/2007

As the Beatles sang… I read the news today oh boy… The Philippines is now No. 1 most corrupt country.

Of course any self-respecting Filipino might be a bit insulted and feel compelled to say it’s exaggerated.

To begin with, most of those asked don’t live here and they compare things relative to more developed countries. They might even be culturally unaware of how and why we do certain things.

That is always the problem between the SENSITIVE and the NUMB.

While others are shocked, disgusted or horrified by certain conditions such as toddlers begging for food outside restaurants, by government servants demanding illegal payments to process applications, policemen slapping fines for imaginary offenses, we the NUMB live with it.

We tap the car window three times so the syndicated beggars will know we won’t give, we incorporate petty bribes and justify it as giving benevolence funds to the greedy, we plead, scratch our heads and talk our way out of a ticket. If that doesn’t work we mention a relative or talk about which national hero would the SOB want to keep in his wallet as remembrance.

To us delay and lost time is more valuable than honesty, integrity, and righteousness.

We are so righteous that we cheat the BIR and justify it by saying we don’t want to give the thieves in government more money to steal.

We are so righteous that after stealing what is Ceasar’s we call him a thief but demand service, protection and integrity as well. Truth be told no Filipino can complain about the perceived corruption in our country. Our landscape is so full of MONUMENTS OF CORRUPTION that you could conduct a tour for Filipinos and foreigners alike.

Before the NPA blew it up, the Marcos bust in La Union was a reminder of Martial Law corruption, the concrete pine tree on Session Road was the center of controversy, the parking meters of Session Road remain as daily reminder on the issue of corruption charges.

SBMA for the longest time has been the battleground of political and business groups hurling accusations of smuggling, drugs, and corruption. A ferry ride away stands one of the most expensive and TOTALLY useless monuments of corruption — the Bataan nuclear plant.

An hour away you can find the Clark Centennial Expo which after much uproar has not resulted in any serious charges in spite of publicly known overpricing, graft and corruption.

As you enter Manila please take note of our useless NAIA 3 terminal which after many delayed openings won’t be opened until after we spend even more money to fix it even before we use it.

Don’t be offended if upon your arrival at the NAIA 1 you may have been harassed by fake policemen. They’re actually airport security guards playing cops. The airport manager is trying his best to fire a few of them.

Oh, so very sorry Anjin san. If BID asks you for cigarettes. He just want to keep you healthy. Oh please don’t touch young Filipinas sneaking out of country. Maybe you’ll meet them when you go to Middle East.

Please take in the scenery as we bring you to one of the most expensive roadways ever built, the Diosdado Macapagal boulevard. At least it doubles as our legal drag race strip on occasion.

We also have the shortest above ground road called the Skyway. It was suppose to go all the way to Alabang but last I heard they ran out of cement. No one has been charged for violating the agreement.

Unique to the Philippine landscape are tricycles which take more passengers than its engine is designed for, it has no safety standards, in fact it is not safe to be in an accident. But only in the Philippines will you find it on our main highways, the EDSA and C-5.

The world famous jeepney is facing extinction. But in spite of not having any lights at night, no brake lights all day, missing plate numbers, they just keep going.

In the mean time please observe our efficient TMG and LTO pick out lady drivers, young kids, and artistic individuals who have put a little litter, a little color to their very visible plates and fine them to ask for a remembrance.

Why is the jeepney facing extinction? Oh very simple Tuli san. All the Japanese AUVs called FX have flooded the streets without permits, no tax payments, etc. But strange, why also no arrests.

Traffic doesn’t move because every city has several "historical illegal terminals". They’ve been there for so long blocking traffic, like the one on Ortigas avenue in front of Robinsons Galleria, but no one can remove it!

Fire? Oh no. There’s no fire — that’s either a senator or congressman rushing to his next campaign appearance. Or maybe it’s a scooter using a siren as a horn.

Yes, they are illegal but the police don’t arrest them and the people in Customs never seem to see these products inside containers because we have a very efficient system they call pakyaw. Fixed price no open.

Speaking of prices, please do not wonder why vendors in public market don’t give receipts. They don’t have any because the BIR don’t want to go to the public market because their barong might get dirty. They only want businessmen to take them to lunch or dinner in first class Golf and Country clubs.

They like exclusive places because they think media cannot go there.

The NLEX and SLEX bring you to the countryside full of golf courses. Some of them made from the money of dead soldiers so their bosses could have their own country club. By the way if all roads lead to Rome, in Philippines the NLEX and SLEX lead to jueteng country and jueteng lords.

When we go to Batangas pier so you can go to Puerto Galera, please don’t listen to the security guard. They will tell you NO FERRY and make you take small bancas. Captain of bancas used to be in movie . . . Pirates of the Carribean.

When we go back we ride "aircon bus". Probably colorum or no franchise and driver no license because police confiscated. Is it alright? Of course NOT! If accident happens no insurance no pay. Company only pays casket OK na!

Oh excuse me. I have to check the e-mail. The parents who saved so much money but lost the education plan for their children are asking me to vote for their party list so they can fight corruption.

Corrupt naman talaga ‘di ba?

Does it hurt because you caused it? Or because you didn’t do anything about it?

-------------------------
Tama rin si Cito!!

[oldblue]

if you can't beat 'em, join 'em hehehe

yun idealistic nation na full of order and honesty, yan ang hinde truth sa'tin

[explorer]

update....

from : http://services.inquirer.net/express...90886-xml.html

RP among most corrupt nations, says watchdog

September 26, 2007
Updated 18:52:20 (Mla time)
Agence France-Presse

LONDON -- The Philippines is perceived to be among the most corrupt countries in the world, according to a watchdog.

Based on the annual Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International released Wednesday, the Philippines ranks 131st out of the 180 nations studied, with a 2.5 rating, along with Burundi, Honduras, Iran, Libya, Nepal, and Yemen.

The index score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people and country analysts and ranges between zero, which is highly corrupt, and 10, which is very clean.

In the top 10 of the least corrupt countries are: Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand, with a 9.4 rating, at no. 1; Singapore and Sweden, 9.3, no. 4; Iceland, 9.2, no. 6; Netherlands and Switzerland, 9.0, no. 7; Canada and Norway, 8.7, no. 9.

Others ranked accordingly are:

11. Australia 8.6; 12. Luxembourg and Britain, 8.4; 14. Hong Kong, 8.3; 15. Austria 8.1; 16. Germany 7.8; 17. Ireland and Japan, 7.5; 19. France 7.3; 20. USA, 7.2; 21. Belgium 7.1; 22. Chile 7.0; 23. Barbados 6.9; 24. Saint Lucia, 6.8; 25. Spain and Uruguay, 6.7; 27. Slovenia 6.6; 28. Estonia and Portugal, 6.5; 30. Israel 6.1; 30. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6.1; 32. Qatar, 6.0; 33. Malta, 5.8; 34. Macao, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates, 5.7; 37. Dominica 5.6; 38. Botswana 5.4; 39. Cyprus and Hungary 5.3; 41. Czech Republic and Italy, 5.2; 43. Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, 5.1; 46. Bahrain 5.0, Bhutan, Costa Rica 5.0; 49. Cape Verde, Slovakia 4.9; 51. Latvia, Lithuania, 4.8; 53. Jordan, Mauritius, Oman 4.7; 56. Greece 4.6; 57. Namibia, Samoa, Seychelles 4.5; 60. Kuwait, 4.3; 61. Cuba, Poland 4.2, Tunisia 4.2; 64. Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey 4.1; 67. El Salvador 4.0; 68. Colombia 3.8; 69. Ghana and Romania 3.7; 71. Senegal 3.6;

72. Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Morocco, Peru 3.5, Suriname; 79. Georgia, Grenada, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Trinidad and Tobago 3.4; 84. Bosnia and Hercegovina, Gabon, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Macedonia, Maldives, Montenegro, Swaziland, 3.3; 84. Thailand 3.3; 94. Madagascar, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tanzania; 98. Vanuatu 3.1; 99. Algeria, Armenia, Belize, Dominican Republic, Lebanon, Mongolia 3.0; 105. Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt 2.9; 111. Eritrea, Guatemala, Moldova, Mozambique, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Uganda, 2.8; 118. Benin, Malawi, Mali, Sao Tome and Principe, Ukraine 2.7; 123. Comoros, Guyana, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Niger, East Timor, Vietnam, Zambia 2.6;

131. Burundi, Honduras, Iran, Libya, Nepal, Philippines, Yemen 2.5; 138. Cameroon, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Syria 2.4; 143. Gambia, Indonesia, Russia, Togo 2.3; 147. Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria 2.2; 150. Azerbaijan, Belarus, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe 2.1; 162. Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Papua New Guinea, Turkmenistan, Venezuela 2.0; 168. Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Laos 1.9; 172. Afghanistan, Chad, Sudan 1.8; 175. Tonga, Uzbekistan 1.7; 177. Haiti 1.6; 178. Iraq, 1.5; 179. Myanmar, Somalia 1.4