“We are morally
bound to stop corruption” – VP Binay to KSAs
By OVP Media
December 27, 2012
PASAY CITY –
Vice President Jejomar C. Binay recently renewed calls to institute
reforms to improve efficiency and ensure effective and honest delivery
of housing services to the people.
Binay, Chairman of the
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), issued a a
memorandum to the government's Key Shelter Agencies (KSAs) directing
the submission of a report on the reforms the government have made in
eliminating practices of red tape and corruption in their offices.
“Corruption is an evil that
weakens and destroys the trust of the people – the very foundation of
a government," the housing czar said. "We are morally bound to
institute reforms that would deter opportunities for corruption in
every government transaction."
Moreover, the Vice President
also recently created a Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG)
within the key shelter agencies to conduct fact-finding investigations
on reports of alleged graft and corruption committed by personnel and
officers of the shelter agencies.
“The creation of the TAG
would ensure that President Noynoy Aquino’s Daang Matuwid policy will
be strictly adhered to by the housing sector," Binay said.
The group is headed by HUDCC
Secretary General Undersecretary Celia S. Alba.
It will be recalled that
Binay’s first directive upon his assumption to office as housing czar
was to ensure that clients of the shelter agencies will be served
under the principle of good governance and transparency.
The Vice President’s
intensive anti-corruption campaign resulted in the dismissal of some
personnel of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG) who
were found to have been involved in the illegal transactions of a real
estate developer Globe Asiatique that apparently victimized innocent
homebuyers.
Under Binay’s guidance, risk
analysis and extensive review of expenditure and revenue patterns have
been implemented within the KSAs, which resulted in clearer targets
and priorities and equitable appropriation of budget.
“We have made every effort
to ensure that the housing sector complies with the anti-corruption
policy set by President Noynoy Aquino and the 2003 United Nations
Convention Against Anti-Corruption (UNAC)”, Binay said.
The Philippines is a
signatory to the UNAC, which is observed every December 9th.