Philippines Corruption Ranking: 114th of 180 Countries
Philippines Grapples with Persistent Corruption: A Decade of Stagnation Demands Citizen action
MANILA – For over a decade, the Philippines has languished in the lower echelons of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), a stark reminder of the challenges the nation faces in combating corruption. The CPI, a crucial barometer of perceived corruption in the public sector, assigns scores from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, a data scientist at Inquirer Metrics and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, has been closely monitoring the country’s performance. His analysis reveals a concerning trend: from 2012 to 2024,the Philippines’ CPI score has remained stubbornly within the narrow range of 33 to 38.
In 2024, the Philippines scored 33, placing it 114th out of 180 countries ranked in the index.This represents a slight dip from its 2023 score of 34. the country’s highest score during this period was 38, achieved in 2014. The lowest scores were recorded in 2021,2022,and now 2024.
“Compared with high integrity countries in the region, like Singapore (83), and New Zealand (85), the Philippines remains in the lower-middle range, closer to countries also grappling with government challenges,” Panao explains. the data paints a picture of a nation struggling to break free from the grip of corruption, lagging behind its more transparent neighbors.
the implications of this persistent corruption are far-reaching. It erodes public trust, hinders economic progress, and undermines the rule of law. As Panao points out,the recent controversy surrounding “ghost” flood control projects,brought to light by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., serves as a stark exmaple of how corruption continues to plague the country. Of the P545-billion budget allocated for flood mitigation projects from July 2022 to May 2025, only P100 billion was awarded to 15 out of 2.
But Panao raises a crucial question that cuts to the heart of the issue: “If the numbers have not moved for more than a decade, perhaps the harder question is whether we, as citizens, have moved enough to demand better.” This is a call to action, a challenge to every Filipino to actively participate in the fight against corruption.
The CPI is not just a number; it’s a reflection of the collective perception of corruption within a country. It’s a call for greater transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. The Philippines can break free from this cycle of stagnation, but it requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. It requires citizens to demand better governance, to hold their leaders accountable, and to actively participate in building a more transparent and just society. The time for complacency is over.The future of the Philippines depends on it.