Member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have declared their renewed commitment to fight corruption in government in a recent meeting in Vladivostok, Russia.

The Office of the Ombudsman participated in the event.

“Acknowledging that corruption fuels illicit trade and insecurity and is a tremendous barrier to economic growth, the safety of citizens, and to the strengthening of economic and investment cooperation among APEC economies, we endorse commitments in fighting corruption and ensuring transparency,” the APEC declaration issues last Sept. 10 read.

Some 45 delegates from member-countries and economies came to the Philippines last week to attend a two –day forum on battling corruption.

The event, held in Makati City, allowed participants to share their best anti-corruption practices for the expanded implementation of the Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct for Business.

The forum featured anti-corruption speakers from institutions such as Transparency International (TI), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), United Nations Development Bank (UNDP), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Representatives from Australia, Chile and Vietnam also presented their experiences as pilot economies in implementing the APEC Code, while China and Malaysia shared their anti-corruption practices.

The Philippines, through the Integrity Initiative, a joint endeavor of the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), presented its own Unified Code of Conduct for Business.

The Office of the Ombudsman expressed confidence that with the support form APEC and its member economies, the Philippine government’s fight against corruption will further be intensified and will stay as one of the country’s priority issues until 2015 when the Philippines hosts the 23rd APEC Summit.

Source: The Philippine Star; News; 24 September 2012