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ELEVEN Cabinet secretaries and two critical bureau heads have signed the private sector-initiated Integrity Pledge that binds signatories to a commitment that they will not in engage in corrupt and unethical activities.
Among those who have signed the pledge are Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Transportation Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, and Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez.
“Once they have signed the pledge, they will have to cascade the commitment down to the bottom of the organization,” Henry Schumacher, former executive vice president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, told reporters at the launch of the Joint Foreign Chambers’ Arangkada Philippines web site on Wednesday.
The secretaries will also put in place control measures in areas in their departments where corruption usually happens.
“If the bottom does not know anything about it, nothing will change,” Schumacher said.
The Integrity Pledge is an initiative of the ECCP, Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines.
On the part of the private sector, Schumacher said about 550 companies have already signed the pledge.
He said after signing the pledge, considered government agencies should see to it that those who are engaged in corrupt activities will be put to jail to show that the campaign is really serious.
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By: Max de Leon
Source: Business Mirror
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