Philippines intensifies efforts for integrity and transparency as APEC leaders declare commitment against corruption
19 September 2012
Manila, Philippines – The 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leader’s Meeting in Vladivostok Russia concluded with the strong commitment to stamp out corruption in the region.
“Acknowledging that corruption fuels illicit trade and insecurity and is a tremendous barrier to economic growth, the safety of citizens, and to the strengthening of economic and investment cooperation among APEC economies, we endorse commitments on fighting corruption and ensuring transparency,†states the APEC Declaration which was issued at the close of the two-day APEC Leader’s Meeting last September 10.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman prepares for the arrival of more than 45 international delegates for the APEC Forum in Manila on September 20-21 to share their best anti-corruption practices for the expanded implementation of the APEC Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct for Business.
The Forum will feature anti-corruption expert speakers and presenters from institutions such as Transparency International (TI), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Representatives from Australia, Chile and Vietnam will be presenting their experiences as pilot economies in implementing the APEC Code, while China and Malaysia will share their best anti-corruption practices. The Philippines, through the Integrity Initiative, a joint endeavour of the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), will also be presenting its own Unified Code of Conduct for Business.
President Benigno Aquino III, who has been very vocal in his advocacy to fight graft and corruption in government, will host a welcome dinner for the delegates in Malacañang on September 20.
The President Aquino’s “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap†campaign has been the hallmark of his administration’s strategies to achieve progress and development in the country ever since he assumed office in June 2010. With the support of APEC and its member economies, the administration’s fight against corruption will further be intensified and will stay as one of the country’s priority issues until 2015 when the Philippines is set to host the 23rd APEC Summit.
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