DBPH Admin2 
HOUSE Committee on Appropriations vice chairperson and General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon on Monday lauded the advances the Philippines has made in the campaign against corruption.
In his privilege speech, he cited the steady rise of the country in the list of countries considered as least corrupt in the corruption perception index of the Transparency International, from 117th in 2021, to 116th in 2022 to 115th in 2023 out of 180 countries.
“These are substantial advancements that validate this Administration’s commitment to implement anti-corruption programs in all the three branches of government,” Acharon said.
To highlight the role of the House of Representatives (HRep) in the campaign, Acharon echoed the declaration of Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in the recent Open Government Partnership Leaders Roundtable that the recently enacted Republic Act 12009 is a major anti-corruption measure of the Marcos administration.
RA 12009 is the revision of RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Acharon said that RA 12009 is important in the campaign because “procurement is one of the governance aspects most prone to corruption, since 40 to 45% is allotted to procurement undertakings. This measure, approved in this chamber as House Bill 9648 guarantees transparency through open contracting and access to procurement information for all stakeholders.”
Acharon took note of the increasing public awareness against corruption.
“There is growing concern among the general public that transparency and accountability in the utilization and disbursement of public funds must be non-negotiable,” he said, mentioning that President Marcos Jr. himself in his Bonifacio Day message, emphasized the need to liberate the country from the shackles of corruption.
Prior to Acharon’s speech, the House deliberated on (HB) 11072, as contained in Committee Report 1254, entitled “An Act including Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal and the municipalities of Asuncion, Capalong, New Corella, San Isidro and Talaingod in the province of Davao del Norte and the municipality of Maco in the province of Davao de Oro to the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Incorporated.”
Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan presided during Monday’s Session.
