On the survey labeling RP as the most corrupt in Asia
VILLAR: FILIPINOS SHOULD FACE REALITY AND
WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE NATIONS REPUTATION

Senate President Manny Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party, says that the results of the survey of Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) with the Philippines ranked as the most corrupt in Asia is a bitter pill to swallow but should serve as a wake-up call to Filipinos.

According to Villar, It is painful to accept but we should face reality. It should serve as a wake-up call for us. We cannot change the perception of the businessmen who were polled in the survey. PERC polled 1,476 expatriate businessmen in the region in January and February, more than 100 of whom were based in the Philippines. In a grading system with zero as the best possible score and 10 the worst, the Philippines got a 9.40 rating. The countrys grade last year was 7.80, second only to Indonesia. Instead of dwelling over the negative result of the survey, we should just work together in order to change the image and reputation of our country. Hindi madali ang pagbabago ng image na iyan at dapat din maging wake-up call iyan sa ating gobyerno na isa sa dahilan kung bakit ganyan ang image natin ay dahil sa mga nanunungkulan, adds Villar. Singapore and Hong Kong were seen as the cleanest economies in the PERC survey. Meanwhile China, Indonesia and Vietnam improved their ranking. Thailand and Indonesia, both with a grade of 8.03, shared the spot as Asias second most corrupt countries. On Malacañang s pronouncements that the opposition people should be blamed for the negative image of the country, Villar says there is no point in finger-pointing.

It is not right to blame the opposition for the most corrupt image of the country and pointing fingers will not accomplish anything. It will just invite more negativity and create division and animosity among Filipinos, cites Villar.

Villar further cites, Hindi naman nagbabasa ng dyaryo ang mga dayuhan. Palagay ko, ang pananaw na ito ay base sa kanilang eksperyensa. Ang mga kaibigan kong negosyanteng dayuhan ay napansin ko na ang binabasa ay mga dyaryo din nila at hindi mga local papers. Karamihan din sa kanila hindi kilala kung sino ang oposisyon o administrasyon.