Curbing Corruption Using System Modernization

Even during a pandemic, corruption still finds its way into national government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Eliminating corruption at a time of a pandemic is no easy work, but curbing it is doable. That if you know what tools to use.

For BOC Assistant Commissioner Attorney Vincent Maronilla, it's innovation thru the use of modern technology. As he said on Monday's episode of Kick-Start Coffee Brewed Awakening, "2019 was the first full year that we've actually planned the modernization of the Bureau of Customs,"

That move helped the agency navigate through the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic- including the agency's efforts to curb corruption.

"To address the corruption in the Bureau of Customs, you have to address the system," Maronilla said. "You also have to change an entire system that has been hounding the bureau all this time," he added.

To slowly eliminate opportunities for corruption, Maronilla said, "We embarked on a modernization program eliminating face-to-face transactions,"

It's still a long way ahead towards curbing corruption, but modernizing the system is a big step forward. 

Screenshot is from Kick-Start Coffee Brewed Awakening Facebook page