While the first of our two end-of project surveys has just been posted, the results coming in already make for some very interesting reading. This survey largely centers on which direction you think the fight for greater transparency and accountability is headed in the Philippines and what you think is currently present, necessary or missing in thinking, plans and action.

The country’s leading champions of greater transparency in government joined forces last week at the final event of the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP).

More than 140 people from the media, civil society, peoples’ organizations, faith groups and the diplomatic community joined PPTRP partners and key public figures in government, Congress and constitutional oversight agencies to improve public accountability, to celebrate the project’s achievements and to launch its practical handbook on how to promote greater public engagement.

The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its 10^th training on advanced transparency and anti-corruption reporting called “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on June 30 at the JJ’s Seafood Village in Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

By any measure or program that aims to prevent or eliminate corruption, the role of audit is crucial.

The role of the Commission on Audit (COA) is thus very important if President Benigno Aquino III is to deliver on his program of good governance.

Aquino has appointed Ma. Gracia Pulido Tan as COA chairperson, a no non-sense accountant who previously had stints in government as Finance Undersecretary.

In an interview with the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP), Tan said she accepted the position with the aim of ensuring that COA would be what it is meant to be– to ensure that public funds would have full and proper accounting.

The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its 8^th training on advanced and anti-corruption reporting dubbed as “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on June 3 at the Social Action Center of Pampanga in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Without question, carrying the desires and expectations of a nation upon one’s shoulders is a huge burden and the challenge of combating corruption a Herculean task. Cynics might even claim it Sisyphean after the Corinthian king set the unavailing task of pushing an immense rock up a mountain for all eternity.

Yet whereas Hercules and Sisyphus labored alone, President Noynoy Aquino can call on a small army of secretaries, civil servants and advisers to help him. How useful they are in his quest of course depends partly on the level of leadership and quality of instructions given.  Finally, whereas the tasks set on Hercules and Sisyphus were purely physical, President Aquino has the harder challenge and is faced with changing traditions and patterns of behavior that are deeply rooted: For sure too, there are powerful vested interests which are working – perhaps even conspiring–  to hinder attempts to build a more transparent and accountable public sector.