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Philippines ranks #129 in Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index

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Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2011 report just came out today and boy, aren’t we all excited to read it!

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So what’s the deal with this Corruption Perceptions Index that makes us all giddy?

Well, we’re all crazy about lists and reputation, statistics and that whole image thing because it influences our credit rating, grant proposal approvals, business investments and such.

It’s basically about tracking how good or bad countries are at squandering people’s money and how good or bad they are at getting away with it.

In the end, where we are on this list now will somehow predict where we’ll be in the future in terms of economic stability and all the perks that go with it.

For a more apt explanation of what it is, it’s best to consult with the guys who assess records and ultimately come up with this list.

According to TI’s website:

“The Corruption Perception Index ranks countries and territories according to their perceived levels of public sector corruption. It is an aggregate indicator that combines different sources of information about corruption, making it impossible to compare countries. […]

[…] Perceptions are used because corruption is to a great extent a hidden activity that is difficult to measure. Over time, perceptions have proved to be a reliable estimate of corruption.”

This year, it ranks 183 countries on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 10 (very clean). 

Never mind that New Zealand, Denmark and Finland topped the list, we’ve always expected them to be there anyway. Or that North Korea and Somalia are at the bottom. It hardly requires an explanation.

But of course, we’d all love to know how our dear country, the Philippines fared, yes?

We currently stand at #129 with a low, low score of 2.6 in the corruption perception index (CPI). That’s not so bad considering that just last year we were at #134 with an index of 2.4 among 178 countries compared to this year with 183.

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So on the flip side, we’re now the #52 most corrupt country in the world. If you’re the pessimist type.

Well, all I can say is that slow and little progress is still progress all the same. I suppose it just goes to show that we’re on the right track (or we’ve been hiring overly ingenious spinmeisters now).

Still, we’ve got a long, long way to go to reach the top (if we ever reach it at all). Hey, don’t be too negative!

All I know is that we owe our forebears a great deal of respect — they who bled for us and our country. May their sacrifices be our continual inspiration to keep on climbing that steep mountain of clean and good governance.

Top of the list, Ma! Top of the list!

One response to “Philippines ranks #129 in Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index”

  1. mike corro Avatar
    mike corro

    FILIPINOS should start getting their acts together..but unfortunately we have a very long way to go until and unless the plurality of the filipinos get educated and morally up right.till then i guess its going to be the same people in government that will be voted into office..rapacious corrupt and inept

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Cecilia Regina Aquino Blanquera Marmol aka RJ Marmol profile picture

I’m RJ Marmol — writer, musician, and independent creator based in Manila.

I write songs, essays, and books about the messy overlap between money, overwhelm, creativity, identity, and rebuilding. Much of my work circles around what happens when life stops feeling manageable — and how we try to think clearly, make decisions, and keep moving anyway.

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