If Filipinos want good governance to last, the country will have to work together in building strategies on anti-corruption measures and governance reform programs.

World Bank Group Managing Director Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, during her speech at the forum “Good Governance: From Vision to Action”, commended the Aquino administration’s efforts on good governance, but noted that “… it is up to the Filipinos to decide the appropriate strategy for improving governance in the Philippines.”

Ramon del Rosario, Jr., chairperson of the Makati Business Club, agreed that government couldn’t do it alone. He said private groups, such as the MBC, are aware of the opportunities for change and have committed to various efforts to ensure good governance including the initiation of an integrity pledge for ethical business practices.

Indrawati said that with the new administration in place and with many Filipinos believing in President Aquino, opportunities are open to advance reforms that will accelerate the country’s development.

“My sincere hope is that you can turn the vision of good governance into a reality,” the World Bank official told the forum audience composed of present and past government representatives as well as members of the academe, civic organizations and private institutions.

She pointed out that with the upbeat mood of the country, the “key challenge is to capture this positive spirit and translate it into action – to pull together a strategy to achieve the government’s vision that has clear targets and a management structure to keep reforms on track.”

She said the government’s actions for budget transparency, improving infrastructure, streamlining business procedures and cutting red tape are solid steps toward sustainable growth.

But she also warned of the challenges that politics can play in institutionalizing reforms. “A country can move only as fast as its politics allows.”

“To me good governance is about fairness and equity. It means that when government officials apply laws and policies, they do so impartially, not influenced by personal relationships, likes and dislikes,” Indrawati said.

She added that for good governance to succeed, efforts should include an empowered citizenry. “It also should empower citizens through transparency and participation.”

She said citizen involvement similar to countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Bolivia have shown good results. “Community-driven development programs, apart from delivering on development objectives of the community, also seem to be a good tool to promote good governance beyond the program itself.

The programs show high rates of economic return as well as less corruption and lower construction costs for community infrastructure.”

The WB official also recommended four categories of reforms: reforms to improve capacity, transparency, and accountability of state institutions; reforms that increase opportunities for people’s participation; reforms that promote economic competitiveness in the private sector; and reforms to make politicians accountable for their decisions and actions.

Citing her own experience as Indonesia’s Finance Minister, she said she while her efforts focused on the way the state manages its money – from tax collection to accounting for spending and even legal reforms – the harder part was rebuilding the organization of the Ministry, and investment in people.

“In particular, tackling corruption in the tax administration took a major redesign including new procedures, a new organization and renewal of human resources.” As Indonesia’s Minister of Finance prior to joining the World Bank, she guided the country’s economic policy in successfully navigating the global economic crisis.

Indrawati is one of three managing directors, along with President Robert Zoellick, form the World Bank Senior Management Team. She is responsible for the Bank’s operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific and the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, she oversees its Integrity Vice Presidency and Office of Evaluation and Suspension.

The forum, organized by the Movement for Good Governance, Makati Business Club, Asian Institute of Management and the World Bank, was held at the Ateneo Professional Schools in Rockwell, Makati City.