This meeting topic was requested by the membership and is seen as an important issue for businesses in the Philippines. Transparency International's 2021 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranks the country (together with Algeria, Egypt, Zambia, and Nepal) in 117th place out of 180 countries. A high rank corresponds to a perception of high corruption in the country's public sector. It is commonly reported that corruption in the Philippine judicial system is a major problem. Bribery and irregular payments in return for favorable judicial decisions are reported as quite common. Although judicial officials are independent by law, reports feed the commonly held belief that rich and powerful groups and individuals wield control and influence over the judicial system and influence the outcomes of civil and criminal proceedings. Financial investment disputes often take an unnecessarily long period of time due to staffing shortages, lack of resources, and corruption in the court system.

Groups such as the police, Customs, and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are reported as being corrupt as well. This is sometimes seen with police raids on business process outsourcing (BPO) establishments that are falsely accused of running scams, online gambling, and pornography operations.

Corruption within and among business groups is reported as well. Nepotism in the award of business contracts to friends and family members that are not properly priced, insider, contracting, and kick-backs on contracts between businesses are not uncommon, according to reports.

This meeting, entitled "Best Practices in Anti-Corruption for Businesses," is intended to open a discussion amongst the security, safety, and business continuity/resilience personnel of businesses on this topic. It is seen as within the purview of the OSAC/SDRG because of the impact of corruption on business resilience efforts and the devastating effects of corruption in various ways on the reputation and viability of the business. Corruption is as corrosive to businesses as climate change, and potentially as destructive as typhoons and earthquakes if goods and supply chains are disrupted by Customs issues, BIR slowdowns and stoppages prevent collections and payments, and law enforcement seizures of computers and servers destroy the ability of an entity to function.

Dealing with corruption has been difficult over the years. While much talk has been made of the issue, many feel that it is talking only, but little concrete action. The Makati Business Club (MBC), a well-respected CEO-level organization in the business hub of the Philippines, hosted a one-day webinar discussion entitled "Walking the Talk: Business Initiatives Against Corruption" on December 9, 2022. MBC launched an "Integrity Initiative" in 2010, with a number of businesses signing an "Integrity Pledge."

Objectives:

• Update OSAC/SDRG members on common corruption schemes experienced globally, and some of the efforts to control corruption at the government and corporation levels;
• Learn some of the preventive steps that businesses may take internally, to reduce the risks of being targeted by corrupt members of government, and contractors;
• Receive current information on the work being done by companies and corporations to successfully fend off extortion and another corrupt targeting, including training of employees, writing and enforcing solid anti-corruption policies through "tone from the top" at the Board level, senior officers, risk, and compliance offices, internal and external auditor awareness, and legal counsel awareness;
• If possible, a discussion of the international applicability of US laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and European regulations. It is recognized that the speaker is not giving legal advice, but reporting on his views of trends and cases seen in public reporting.
• Establish bilateral liaison with our members, with a view to encouraging members to participate more fully in dealing with weather and climate issues in their workplace and family environment as well as the community at large.