MANILA — Despite moving up one spot in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, the Philippines continues to struggle with growing concerns over corruption.

While the country’s ranking improved from 115th in 2023 to 114th in 2024, its CPI score fell from 34 to 33, indicating an erosion of public confidence in government efforts to combat corruption.

CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva stated, “The numbers don’t lie—while we may have gone up one step in the rankings, our actual score dropped. This means the perception of corruption in our country is not improving but getting worse. A higher ranking means nothing if people still see our institutions as corrupt and lacking in transparency.”

The latest Transparency International report highlighted the Philippines’ continued struggle in tackling corruption, placing it below the global average CPI score of 43. The country also lags behind regional neighbors such as Malaysia (50), Indonesia (37), and Thailand (34). The report further emphasized that governments across the region, including the Philippines, are failing to fulfill their commitments to anti-corruption initiatives.

Villanueva underscored the urgent need for institutional reforms and stronger government accountability to reverse the downward trend.

“Transparency and accountability must not be mere slogans. We need real action—public funds must be handled with integrity, and corruption must be punished at all levels of government,” he stressed.

Villanueva also reiterated calls for greater transparency in legislative processes, particularly in bicameral conference committee meetings, to prevent backroom negotiations and ensure government dealings are above board.

CIBAC Party-List continues to push for anti-corruption measures, good governance, and the responsible management of public funds.

“A decline in our CPI score is a wake-up call. We must double down on our fight against corruption, implement stronger transparency mechanisms, and rebuild public trust in our institutions,” Villanueva concluded.

📷 CIBAC