In a poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations with support from the USAID-funded Integrity for Investments Initiative (i3), in partnership with the National Competitiveness Council and The Asia, only 32 percent of firms surveyed reported having personal knowledge of a corrupt transaction with government in their respective lines of business in the last three months — a new low.

This was an improvement from 38 percent in 2013 and the previous low of 33 percent in 2012. The worst rating came in 2007 at 44 percent.

 

Fewer respondents also reported that most companies in their line of business give bribes to win public sector contracts.

 

Only 39 percent of the enterprises interviewed said that "almost all" or "all" of the businesses in their sector allot a percentage for bribes when closing a deal with the government. This result is a new low, going from 2013's 41 percent. The highest was at 57 percent in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 surveys.

However, 44 percent of the respondents admitted they were solicited for a bribe. The respondents reported that they were asked for a bribe for the following: 

 

- Getting local government permits/licenses

- Assessment/payment of income taxes

- Getting national government permits/ licenses

- Complying with import regulations incl. payment of import duties

- Supplying government with goods/services

- Collecting receivables from government

- Availing of government incentives 

 

Only 13 percent of them reported it. 

 

Nonetheless, 79 percent said that transactions in city/municipal government offices are "somewhat/definitely transparent," a new high.

 

Still, 90 percent of them agree that corruption can be reduced further by passing "a law on the right of the people to information from the government." 

 

The survey was conducted in seven areas: National Capital Region, Metro Angeles (Pampanga), Cavite / Laguna / Batangas, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City / Iligan City, and Metro Davao from November 2014 to February 2015.  —JST, GMA News

Original Source:  http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/534719/money/companies/businesses-seeing-reduction-in-public-sector-corruption-bribery-sws-survey