Defying Entropy.

(That Thing They Call) Integrity.

By: Ronald Gem A. Celestial

With graft and corruption as a national way of life since post-Liberation days, the government seems to have forgotten one thing - integrity. Almost every administration has had its infamous graft cases. At every presidential election, it is one of major issues being raised. Opposition leaders denounce the graft being committed by the administration, but once they take over the government, they also commit graft. It is just a case of people pigging out the national treasury at different times.

According to the Transparency International global corruption index, the Philippines ranks 134th out of 178 countries in the “highly corrupt” category. In 2000, the World Bank estimated that from 1977 to 1997, the Philippines lost $48 billion (P1.968 trillion) to corruption. With that kind of amount, imagine how many kilometers of roads and bridges, schoolhouses and hospitals could have been built and how many public infrastructures and public services could have been improved.

It is a pity that because of impunity, graft and corruption flourishes. Except former president Joseph Estrada, nobody has been convicted of corruption and plunder. Despite Estrada’s plunder case; he did not spend even a day in a real prison. He was pardoned by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo six weeks after his conviction. With these cases of graft and corruption, the government loses popular confidence and the electoral process seems to be no longer an instrument of change.

But it is not too late to make a positive change. Integrity needs to be restored. Defined, it means making the correct choice when faced between right and wrong. From the adherence to ethics and morals to honesty and transparency, integrity may sit on top.

In the absence of integrity, any institution becomes untrustworthy. Competence is fruitless if the very basic personal and social integrity in life cannot be followed. The views and opinions on any issue should not change given different situations for the sake of one’s interests. Being in the position means having a lot of responsibility. That means, taking a stand independent from public importance. Public pressure can shake governments but voicing out in an unbiased manner still matters. Without integrity, a government is not filled to be called a government, for how will it perform its function of service and governance if it can’t organize itself internally? Therefore, good governance starts from every citizen.

In the national economy, it is the mortal mix of corruption and poverty that causes the Philippines to be in a perennial crisis; hence, the people do not trust the government. They do not know where their taxes go and opaqueness is the rule. This means, if only the system is transparent enough, they could have gained the people’s trust. Financial integrity is not just about eradicating corruption, but also not getting sold to others’ mean interests for some monetary value however big or small. Even the little speed money used at government offices to quicken any process or to have work done faster is a failure of financial integrity.

Out of personal integrity, public integrity stems out. It requires to people go and cast votes, not to give bribes, not to do or say anything that may harm the society, and pay taxes regularly. Good governance is not the sole responsibility of the lawmakers. Do not forget that the system is in its present state because people approve it. Although it is about developing good mechanisms in a society by fostering transparency, this responsibility does not start and end with the people seated at the office alone. What they do is based on what the people wants and what the constitution permits. Basically, the people are busy with their own personal lives and their jobs. They are contented with what is going on around because it does not concern them. Basically, it is the poor who suffer from any irresponsibility done by the government. And if people tend to become apathetic, then they are violating all standards of public integrity.

The windows to a good governance mechanism in any society are all public services. The more transparent the government is, the more they become cordial and interactive with the society. As education continues to enrich the people, politicians will realize that they can no longer fool the innocent and ignorant village folk by making empty promises. Competence “and” integrity are the prerequisites of good governance. And for this to actually become true, we as a society have some great responsibilities to uphold. There has to be an initiative to this rise of social consciousness.

If people are aware of their basic rights, behave responsibly and turn away unethical practices; these solons would have to come out in the open and endorse what is right In turn, they would have to follow the principles of integrity because it is what the people calls for. That will be the start of good governance.