By Johnny Dayang
A United Nations agency recently bared its assessment report indicating that the global cost of corruption is about US$2.6 trillion, or more than P130 trillion, $1 trillion of which or over P50 trillion comes in the nature of bribery. It is unclear if this figure includes payment for subtle or outright extortion demands.
Compared to the $2.6 trillion corruption cost, the approved P3.8 trillion Philippine budget for 2018 amounts to just a ridiculously tiny drop. Needless to stress, the Philippines is one of the countries where corruption thrives robustly.
Corruption is not just a Philippine malady. It is a global problem that dates back to biblical times. Its intensity and garapality vary from one country, depending on their stage of economic development. It thrives in poor and developing economies and tends to dip as inclusive growth materializes but does not easily evaporate.
This observation finds credence in historical accounts. Tax collectors in biblical times were hated for their patronizing manner and because they pocketed a good part of their collections. They were considered sinners and parisees.
Back in the 1920’s. the United States was said to be a model in corruption. In more modern times and advanced economies where strong legal and social controls now prevail, it may no longer be as rampant as before but has not have been totally eliminated. Relatively corruption-free societies today include the Scandinavian countries in Europe.
In Asia, as generally known, corruption remains prevalent. Thus we know of Presidents and other ranking government officials who have been indicted and convicted of corruption and disgraced in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines, among others. In authoritarian China, despite its harsh laws against corruption and where convicted violators are executed, corruption remains strong. Some overseas Chinese and other foreign nationals are known to actively promote the malaise to serve their private interests in their host countries.
Corruption, however, may not be intrinsic to the Filipino native culture as shown by the honest business transactions in pre-Spanish times between Panay native chieftains and their counterpart Malayan datus, and the still uncorrupted honesty stores in Batanes where buyers simply leave their money and take the price-tagged items they need.
In any case, fears are expressed over the highly complex tax reform (TRAIN) measure just approved by the Senate-House bicameral committee which may promote corruption instead of its inclusive growth objective.
