The Asian Development Bank wants to improve the integrity of the Philippine justice system with a $300 million loan, saying low salaries among judges and prosecutors are the main cause of corruption and trial delays.
The Manila-based lender said Tuesday its recent study has concluded that governance and corruption concerns coupled with weak investor confidence and inadequate infrastructure were major constraints to growth in the Philippines.
"The judiciary and justice sector agencies perform a critical governance and oversight function. A well-functioning justice sector is therefore key to support sustained growth and poverty reduction," the bank said in a statement.
The $300 million loan will be used to increase budget resources and internal controls as well as support more competitive salaries among judges and prosecutors in a bid to reduce vacancies and help cut delays in the justice system.
"This program responds to a clear message we get from repeated surveys _ that the Filipino people expect higher standards from their public officials," said Jaseem Ahmed, director for the ADB governance and trade division.
The bank said high caseloads and low conviction rates are prevalent in the court system, while a lack of funds was undermining the independence of judges.
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Asian Development Bank: http://www.adb.org
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