Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday said the perception of foreign businessmen that the Philippines is the most corrupt economy among 13 countries and territories across Asia is unfair.

He noted that the government has taken numerous steps to curb corruption in the country. "To make a sweeping conclusion is very unfair," he said. Such kind of conclusions can hurt the country's economy because it gives wrong signals to investors, the governor added.

It would be good if they could specify which office they think is the most corrupt, he said.

The Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy said Tuesday that a survey it conducted showed that the Philippines replaced Indonesia as the country with "the distinction of being perceived in the worst light this year,"

Ignacio Bunye, president Gloria Arroyo's spokesman, yesterday said Malacañang was not denying the culture of corruption "that has crept into several areas of Philippine society and politics over many decades, but this government has undertaken a strong and steady effort to curb graft through criminal justice, administrative controls and procedural reforms."

This effort is focused on the graft-prone revenue agencies that have upped their performance over the recent years; agencies that are in the frontline of day-to-day public services; and local governments that tend to be out of the anti-corruption radar in the past, he said.

Results have been gained and reforms are being made although we realize that the Philippines has to deal with negative perceptions that are still rooted in the past, Bunye also said.*CPG

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