Corruption within the government remains a pressing concern for Filipinos, as highlighted by a Pulse Asia survey conducted from November 26 to December 3, 2024. Consequently, an overwhelming 90% of Filipinos assert that government officials involved in corruption must be held accountable. Moreover, with the upcoming 2025 elections, 41% of Filipinos believe that addressing corruption should be a top priority for senatorial candidates. These figures underscore a widespread public perception that corruption is a pervasive national issue, undermining service delivery, fostering abuse and intimidation by officials, and making the public more sensitive to unethical practices.  

Eliminating corruption could lead to significant positive outcomes, including increased public trust in the government, improved quality of life for ordinary citizens, and economic growth. A viable solution to addressing the corruption plague is a comprehensive whole-of-government approach and strategic collaboration involving key government institutions, members of the private sector, and civil society at large. This approach will likewise strengthen institutions and foster transparency and accountability in government. 

Corruption finds fertile ground in many corners of the governance framework. With the 2025 Midterm Elections on the horizon, tackling this issue demands utmost attention. Integrity must serve as the cornerstone of both national governance and local government units (LGUs). In addition, restoring public trust lies in the transparent and truthful disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), reinforcing collective commitment of the Filipino to accountability and ethical leadership. 

In this light, the Stratbase Institute, in partnership with Democracy Watch Philippines, held a forum entitled, “Leveraging Strategic Collaborations to Address Corruption”. This was held on 05 February 2025, Wednesday from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (PHT) at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Taguig City. This forum is a side event of the 2025 OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting. 

The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss their roles in combating corruption and to propose collaborative strategies for strengthening institutions and promoting transparency and accountability in government. It also contributed meaningfully to the critical dialogue leading up to the 2025 elections, fostering a collective commitment to ethical governance and reform.