The Corruption We Keep Financing Every Election
A contractor friend once explained to me how the standard operating procedure system works. Before a government project even begins, a percentage of the contract price may already be committed to people who helped facilitate it. He described a system where 20 to 30 percent can go to commissions and kickbacks.
Imagine a P1-billion infrastructure allocation. At 20 percent, that’s P200 million potentially diverted before a single road is completed. Not every project is corrupt, but we would be foolish to pretend this arrangement doesn’t warrant serious investigation.
What bothers me even more is how this money can find its way back into politics.
Elections are expensive. Politicians need campaign funds. Contractors want government projects. And when both sides depend on each other, we create a vicious cycle that rewards corruption and keeps the same political machinery in power.
The irony is that campaign donations are already legal in the Philippines. Individuals and qualified domestic corporations can contribute, subject to restrictions. Government contractors are prohibited from doing so. Yet we continue to hear allegations of money changing hands through intermediaries and undisclosed arrangements.
Meanwhile, our election laws still limit most congressional candidates to spending just P3 per registered voter. Does anyone seriously believe a candidate can run a credible campaign today on that amount?
We have practically built a system where the rules are disconnected from reality, while the temptation to cheat is enormous.
I believe we should allow candidates to raise legitimate campaign funds openly, subject to reasonable donation limits. Update the spending ceiling to a realistic P30 per registered voter. Encourage ordinary citizens to contribute, even just P100-P500, so candidates need not depend entirely on wealthy political financiers.
But every peso must be accounted for. Require dedicated campaign accounts; publish contributions and expenditures within 48 hours; identify corporate donors and their beneficial owners; cross-check donor records against government contractors and procurement awards; and impose serious penalties on those who disguise kickbacks as political contributions.
We already have much of the technology and legal infrastructure to do this. What we lack is the political will to connect the systems and enforce the rules.
This is why I am proposing a political finance integrity and anti-kickback act. It will not eliminate greed or corruption overnight, but it can make legitimate campaign financing easier and public accountability much stronger.
If politicians need money to get elected, let them ask the people for support. Stop making taxpayers finance their reelection through overpriced government projects.
We should demand this reform before the next election.
Ann Cuisia,
founder and CEO, Traxion Tech
