Gov't must steer public to practice integrity — Marcos

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on concerned government agencies and offices to push the public to manifest integrity in their daily lives.

Marcos said this as the Philippines hosts the 5th State Conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Implementation and Review, noting that the event was made more meaningful for the country as ''we set the course for a Bagong Pilipinas where truth is our strongest currency and integrity is the cornerstone of our national identity.''

''With this conference’s theme, 'Pagpapatibay ng Kultura ng Integridad sa Bagong Pilipinas,' we are called to go beyond implementing policies and protocols and to look deep into our core values to strengthen the culture of integrity,'' Marcos said in his speech.

''We must shift away from merely enforcing compliance with laws, rules and regulations, to steering our people towards the practice of integrity in their daily lives. Integrity that is rooted in katapatan, malasakit, pakikipag-kapwa, and bayanihan – these need to be reinforced and sustained,'' he added.

Marcos said that in building a government founded on integrity and accountability, ''we must adopt comprehensive and interconnected strategies.''

The President also said the public can be empowered to participate in good governance by promoting full public disclosure of information in the way that we do business in government.

''Through the electronic Freedom of Information platform, citizens now have avenues to exercise their right to vital government information,'' Marcos said.

''Our national budget, which is detailed to the project level, is published online, allowing our people to know how much and for what public funds are being spent on,'' he added.

The UNCAC is an international anti-corruption treaty ratified, accepted, approved, and acceded to by 180 countries.

The organization aims to promote and strengthen State Parties’ measures to prevent and combat corruption more effectively and efficiently; to facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in preventing and fighting corruption, including asset recovery; and to promote integrity, accountability, and proper management of public affairs and properties. — BAP, GMA Integrated News