Imperative 43: I-Congress Part 2 of 3: Identifying root causes of corruption should lead to preventive solutions
The list of corruption cases large and small as reported by Philippine media goes on and on from 1950s to present. Unfortunately, what cases 'graduated' to the courts form a tiny part of the real scale of the poverty-creating culture. For a quick estimate of the most recent (early 2000s) scale of Philippine corruption, consider 40-50% of P3+ trillion in yearly State budgets going to the pockets of a few politicians and their 'facilitator squads', with 'loose change' going to some payment-processing bureaucrats. What drives such unspeakable and unending corruption? Here are the major systemic causes (author's conclusions based on historical studies): a) Too few contract planners and approvers. Incumbent political parties appoint a few directors and executives in State agencies and corporations. All are expected to contribute to the next election campaign kitty thru contractors' commissions. Philippine elections cost billions of pesos per