Project BANTAY of the Beautiful Heart Foundation, Inc.
Good Governance
Governance is the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights. Good governance accomplishes this in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law. The true test of "good" governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. The key question is: are the institutions of governance effectively guaranteeing the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, quality education, fair justice and personal security?
The concept of good governance has been clarified by the work of the Commission on Human Rights. The key attributes of good governance as:
- transparency
- responsibility
- accountability
- participation
- responsiveness (to the needs of the people)
Stop Corruption
From TAG (Transparent Accountable Governance) Project Website that states:
"Corrupt and collusive practices are deeply embedded in the Philippines' traditional personalistic system of governance. Influenced by extensive patronage networks, the bureaucracy feeds on cumbersome and opaque procedures that allow for too much discretion. A sophisticated culture of corruption provides disincentives for non-corrupt behavior, where individuals or companies that speak out against corrupt behavior fear negative treatment from government agencies. The institutional mechanisms for monitoring and reducing corruption are weak.
Although a hot topic of public debate, corruption in the Philippines is not well understood. It tends to be treated in a personalized, political manner, rather than as a systemic problem. The public at large expresses dismay at the problem, especially due to its perceived negative impact on economic development. But constituencies for reform are not well organized nor is there consensus on priorities to be addressed.
A new generation of sophisticated empirical research has begun to quantify the costs of corruption on domestic economies. Corruption has been shown to discourage both domestic and foreign investment and reduce economic growth. It also distorts allocative choices, allowing fiscal resources to be directed to inefficient sectors or unworthy enterprises. "
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