The Department of Education (DepEd) is ranked eighth among the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission’s list of honest government agencies.
The PAGC cited the education department in the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP) 2009 Awards. DepEd was cited for the first and second quarter of 2009.
“We are very happy to receive this recognition. This shows that DepEd’s thrust of implementing policies that conform to the ethical standard of public service is bearing fruit,” said Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus.
The awards were given based on how the agencies performed on anti-graft and corruption measures in compliance with the requirements of IDAP in 2009.
“This boosts the department’s morale and inspires us to do even better as public servants,” Lapus said.
IDAP is in line with the government’s efforts to fight graft and corruption in the executive branch. It is composed of 22 “do-ables” or specific anti-corruption measures which are clustered into strategies of prevention, education, investigation and enforcement, and strategic partnership.
On the other hand, deterrence is the effort to make corruption a high-risk, low reward activity by establishing an effective system to encourage public support, quick response, effective prosecution and disciplinary action, professionalism, and publicity in successful cases.
Strategic partnership is enjoining the support of the public in the fight against graft and corruption through strategic partnership.
“In whatever we do, we should always strive to do it with integrity, transparency, and efficiency so that we can deliver better public service,” Lapus said.
The DepEd was ranked the least corrupt agency and number one in public approval rating in a 2009 Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey. Secretary Lapus was also cited best performing Cabinet secretary in the same poll.
Source: Manila Bulletin