TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
cr o o
S. No. 0^0
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25 JUL 14 fill 50
«ECEIV£D6V_^}
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION MAINSTREAMING 
AGENDA, STRENGTHENING INTEGRITY SYSTEMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
MECHANISMS ACROSS ALL BRANCHES AND LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, 
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF TAP AT NA PAGLILINGKOD IN PUBLIC SERVICE, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Corruption in the Philippines is woven into the fabric of everyday life. For many 
citizens, it has ceased to shock—as when small entrepreneurs bribe for permits, 
students pay off school officials, or everyday public services demand a cut. Surveys 
reflect this resignation: when asked, many people say they will vote for the "least evil" 
candidate, while others shrug, "di naman naiiwasan magnakaw" C'stealing is 
unavoidable"). This normalization is heartbreak born of generations of inefficiency, 
weak deterrents, and impunity.
Surveys and field reports reflect this public resignation. Reports have shown 
that 40% believed most companies engaged in bribery to win public contracts.1 
Globally, the Philippines scored only 33 out of 100 in Transparency International's 
2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)—significantly below the Asia-Pacific regional 
average of 44, and ranking 114th out of 180 countries.2 More than a governance
1 https://www.ganintegrity.com/country-
profiles/philippines/#:~:text=Public%20procurement%20Two%20in%20five%20companies%20indic 
ate,public%20officials%2C%20is%20very%20common%20(GCR%202017%2D2018). — retrieved 
on July 10, 2025
2 https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024/index/phl — retrieved on July 10, 2025


failure, these numbers signal lost development potential, diminished investor 
confidence, and deepening public distrust.
The cost is staggering. The World Bank previously estimated that corruption 
may cost the Philippines as much as 20% of its national budget.3 According to the 
Office of the Ombudsman, the country loses up to P700 billion every year due to 
corruption.4 That amount is close to the entire 2024 budget of the Department of 
Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which funds roads, bridges, and vital public 
infrastructure. It is also more than triple the annual budget of the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD). These losses could have funded thousands of 
classrooms, modernized government hospitals, delivered clean drinking water to rural 
barangays, or completely digitized government frontline services. Every peso lost to 
corruption is a peso stolen from a child's future, a worker's dignity, or a community's 
growth.
Yet for all the losses caused by corruption, only a small fraction of wrongdoers 
are ever investigated, and with much less having been punished. This imbalance 
between the scale of wrongdoing and the rarity of accountability creates a dangerous 
norm: that corruption is low-risk and high-reward. It emboldens those in power to 
bend the rules with confidence and convinces ordinary citizens that speaking up is 
futile. Worse, it discourages honest officials and public servants from resisting corrupt 
practices, knowing that the system rarely protects the righteous or rewards integrity.
For all the country's national development plans across sectors such as 
infrastructure, social protection, agriculture, and local governance, corruption is rarely, 
if ever, meaningfully addressed. The language of planning is often clean, technical, 
and optimistic. This is in stark contrast to what is actually happening behind closed 
doors and in hushed meeting rooms. If you ask those on the ground—contractors, 
suppliers, engineers, frontline workers—the reality is far more complex.5 But no one
3 https://business.inquirer.net/390650/a-look-at-how-corruption-works-in-the- 
philippines#:~:text=According%20to%20the%202007%20study,percent)%20of%20the%20national 
%20budget. — retrieved on July 10, 2025
4 https://www.abs-cbn.eom/news/08/15/19/p700-biilion-lost-yearly-due-to-corruption-says-official — 
retrieved on July 10, 2025
5 Philippine Institute for Deveiopment Studies. (2001). Corruption in the Philippines. Development 
Research News, Vol. 5 No. 1 (January-June 2001). Retrieved from 
https://pids.gov.ph/publication/news/2819 on July 10, 2025.


dares to ask more meaningful questions as to why this is the case. In sectors like 
infrastructure, which handle massive budgets and long procurement chains, corruption 
risks are not hypothetical; they are endemic. Yet these risks are invisible in the very 
plans that are meant to drive reform. This bill recognizes that we cannot keep 
designing policies and programs as if corruption were not a central barrier to 
development. It is time we redirected our technocratic capacity not to bypass 
corruption, but to confront it strategically, structurally, and systemically.
To confront this challenge, we must break the culture of corruption. We must 
be able to name it, talk about it, and dismantle it. But we cannot do this solely through 
punishment, especially when corruption is embedded in entrenched systems upheld 
by powerful actors. A purely punitive approach suppresses honest discourse and 
discourages brave public officials and whistleblowers.
In the current system, an impervious invisible wall persists—unspoken yet 
deeply felt. It divides ordinary civil servants from those perceived as beyond reproach. 
This wall is built by fear, hierarchy, and resignation. It shields the powerful while 
exposing the rank-and-file to scrutiny and risk, creating a dangerous norm where 
accountability is selective and integrity becomes burdensome. This bill confronts that 
imbalance by replacing silence with structure, fear with safeguards, and selective 
outrage with systemic reform. It creates space for truth and restores the moral 
foundation of public service without sowing division or condemnation. This approach 
affirms, once more, that honesty and integrity are not lofty ideals, but the necessary 
ground on which the true work of government must stand.
This measure proposes a developmental, strategic, and systems-based 
approach where corruption is seen as a development challenge and a fundamental 
obstacle to national progress. It shifts the paradigm:
• 
From punishment to prevention, from vindictiveness to pragmatism—by 
embedding anti-corruption safeguards into planning, budgeting, HR, and 
service delivery systems;
• 
From siloed enforcement to whole-of-government coordination, through the 
creation of the Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Council (ACMC);


• From secrecy to openness—by institutionalizing internal integrity checks, public
dashboards, protected discourse, and active partnerships with journalists, civil
society, and citizens.
The Tapat na Paglilingkod Act is both a legal mandate and our cultural reset 
button:
1. All agencies must map corruption vulnerabilities, report them under oath, 
and design internal systems for prevention;
2. Whistleblowers are given real protection, access to assistance, and 
recognition for good faith disclosures;
3. Government employees are encouraged to speak about corruption, learn 
from each other's failures and reforms, and be assured that honest 
discourse—when conducted professionally—is not disloyalty but integrity;
4. The role of media and public information outlets is recognized as essential. 
Communication becomes part of the integrity architecture: dashboards, 
bulletins, public forums, and transparency protocols are no longer optional— 
they are embedded into performance and governance.
Ultimately, this bill reimagines anti-corruption reform not anymore as a punitive 
campaign that had been attempted for so long and which had failed systematically, 
but as a pillar of sustainable development, civic dignity, and democratic accountability.
It is time to break the silence that corruption relies on.
The Tapat na Paglilingkod Act \s not a campaign slogan. It is a commitment to 
reshape the lived experience of governance in the Philippines. It honors the public 
servants whose integrity endured amid indifference, fear, or helplessness and who 
chose honesty even when the system offered no reward for it. This law is for them. It 
is also for the future we must now build where tapat na pagHTmgkod\s the expectation 
and not the exception.
In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 14 All SO
SENATE 
S. No. 5
RECEIVoD EY;
c:23
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION MAINSTREAMING 
AGENDA, STRENGTHENING INTEGRITY SYSTEMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
MECHANISMS ACROSS ALL BRANCHES AND LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, 
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF TAPAT NA PAGLILINGKOD IN PUBLIC SERVICE, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tapat na Paglilingkod
Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to regard corruption 
not solely as a criminal offense but as a fundamental barrier to national development, 
social equity, and institutional trust. In pursuit of sustainable development and 
responsive governance, the State shall adopt a preventive, strategic, and systems- 
based approach to combat corruption through risk identification, internal control, 
cross-institutional coordination, citizen engagement, and cultural transformation.
Corruption shall be addressed as a developmental issue, one that erodes the 
effectiveness of public investment, distorts resource allocation, undermines service 
delivery, and deepens poverty and inequality. It shall be treated not only as a matter 
of individual misconduct but as a structural weakness that requires integrated 
solutions across institutions, policies, and cultural norms. Anti-corruption efforts shall 
therefore be mainstreamed into governance planning, budgeting systems, and 
performance evaluation frameworks as a core pillar of inclusive and sustainable 
development.
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Sec. 3. Institutional Principles for Implementation. - To enable a culture of
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prevention, transparency, and reform, the following principles shall govern the
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implementation of this Act and all agency-level initiatives to combat corruption:
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a) Openness to Discourse. - Public officials and government employees shall
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not be discouraged or penalized for engaging in good faith discussions,
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critiques, or analyses concerning systemic corruption vulnerabilities
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within and across government agencies, provided that such discourse is
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conducted professionally and without malice;
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b) Non-Retaliation for Transparency. - No person shall be subject to
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administrative or disciplinary action, including harassment, transfer,
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denial of promotion, or baseless complaints, solely for having spoken,
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written, or shared in a forthright and respectful manner about corruption
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risks or control weaknesses in any public agency or institution;
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c) Anti-Censorship Clause. - Statements made by public officials or
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government employees in connection with internal audits, compliance
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reporting, integrity workshops, or participatory forums under this Act
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shall be presumed as protected discourse. Such statements shall not be
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construed as libelous, defamatory, or disloyalty to the service if made in
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the context of performance improvement or transparency;
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d) Cross-Agency Learning. - Government agencies are encouraged to learn
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from each other's experiences, including by sharing case studies of past
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lapses or successful reforms. No stigma shall attach to the open
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acknowledgment of corruption incidents that have been addressed with
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institutional remedies;
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e) Professional Courtesy and Evidence Standards. - All discussions
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concerning corruption vulnerabilities shall observe professional language
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and shall not name individuals unless supported by formal findings,
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internal documentation, or legal proceedings. Discussions must focus on
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systems, processes, and improvement, not personal attacks;
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f) Intergenerational Responsibility. - Public service must be anchored not
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only in present-day accountability but in the duty to protect future
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generations from institutional decay and systemic corruption.


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Government institutions shall adopt forward-looking approaches that 
strengthen integrity systems, preserve public trust, and ensure that 
today's governance choices do not burden tomorrow's citizens with the 
consequences of unaddressed corruption.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act:
a) Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Agenda (NACMA) refers to the six-year 
national strategic framework that integrates corruption prevention, 
institutional integrity, and risk management into the development 
agenda, fiscal governance, public investment planning, and service 
delivery. It shall be forward-looking, participatory, and regularly updated 
to reflect changing governance contexts, innovations, and long-term 
national goals;
b) Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Council (ACMC) refers to the inter-agency 
coordinating body created under this Act, mandated to oversee the 
development, implementation, monitoring, and cross-sector alignment of 
NACMA;
c) Corruption refers to any act or omission by a public employee, public 
official, or private individual that involves the abuse of entrusted power, 
position, or resources for personal or political gain. This includes, but is 
not limited to, bribery, fraud, embezzlement, favoritism, rent-seeking, 
conflict of interest, and collusion, whether these are committed directly 
or indirectly, and whether in violation of existing laws or internal rules, 
when such conduct undermines public trust, impairs service delivery, or 
distorts institutional integrity;
d) Corruption Vulnerability List refers to a documented and annually 
updated inventory of historical, current, and potential corruption risks in 
an agency, categorized by process, actor, transaction type, enabling 
environment, and institutional impact;
e) Internal Anti-Corruption Plan refers to an agency-specific strategic 
response outlining preventive, monitoring, and remedial measures 
against identified corruption risks, with clear accountability, timelines, 
and control points;


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f) Corruption Risk Mapping refers to the process of identifying, analyzing, 
prioritizing, and visualizing areas, actors, and functions vulnerable to 
corrupt conduct across agency workflows, programs, and resource use;
g) Whistleblower refers to any individual, whether from within or outside 
the agency, who discloses in good faith any corrupt conduct, systemic 
weakness, or risk-related irregularity in the public sector, and who may 
be eligible for protection or reward under this Act; and
h) Public Disclosure Dashboard refers to an integrated online platform 
managed by the ACMC Secretariat that consolidates validated information 
on corruption risks, compliance reports, internal controls, and agency 
performance.
Sec. 5. National Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Agenda (NACMA). -
a) There is hereby established a National Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming 
Agenda (NACMA), to be issued every six (6) years by the ACMC in 
consultation with relevant stakeholders. The NACMA shall be aligned with 
the government's current medium- and long-term development 
strategies and investment priorities, and shall be updated within one (1) 
year from the assumption of each new administration;
b) The NACMA shall serve as a blueprint for the mainstreaming of anti­
corruption systems into national and local governance. It shall define:
1. National anti-corruption outcomes and developmental targets;
2. Sectoral and agency-level deliverables and key results areas (KRAs);
3. Cross-cutting strategies on corruption risk prevention, enforcement 
coordination, institutional capacity building, and cultural reform;
4. Alignment with international standards, SDGs, and data openness 
initiatives; and
5. Priority reforms in high-risk sectors such as public procurement, 
permits and licensing, infrastructure, taxation, social protection, and 
public service delivery.
c) The NACMA shall integrate preventive, curative, and punitive strategies, 
and shall apply to all branches, instrumentalities, agencies, and 
subdivisions of government. It shall also provide for intergenerational


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safeguards that address corruption risks with long-term developmental 
impact, including but not limited to environmental misuse, interagency 
capture, and public investment inefficiencies;
d) The NACMA shall include a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) 
Framework that tracks progress through integrity indicators, corruption 
perception surveys, public feedback, and verified implementation reports, 
with results used to refine subsequent agenda cycles; and
e) A Long-Term Integrity Outlook section shall be appended to every 
NACMA cycle, projecting emerging corruption risks, governance 
vulnerabilities, and system reforms needed over a 10- to 15-year horizon, 
based on foresight tools, institutional audits, and participatory scenario 
planning.
Sec. 6. Creation of the Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Council (ACMC). -
a) There is hereby created a body to be known as the Anti-Corruption 
Mainstreaming Council (ACMC), which shall serve as the primary inter­
agency coordinating body for the development, implementation, 
oversight, and evaluation of the National Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming 
Agenda (NACMA). The ACMC shall ensure the integration of corruption 
prevention systems, risk mapping, and institutional reform across all 
branches and levels of government;
b) The ACMC shall be composed of the following members:
1. The Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning, and 
Development (DEPDev) - Chairperson;
2. The Ombudsman - Co-Chairperson;
3. The Solicitor General;
4. The Secretary of Justice;
5. The Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission;
6. The Chairperson of the Commission on Audit;
7. The Executive Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council 
(AMLC);
8. The Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA);


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9. The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government;
10. The Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management;
11.One (1) representative from a duly accredited civil society
organization, to be appointed by the President upon the 
recommendation of the Council;
12.One (1) media representative appointed by the President upon 
the recommendation of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters ng 
Pilipinas-, and
13. One (1) representative from the academic or research community 
with demonstrated expertise in governance, anti-corruption, or 
development policy, likewise to be appointed by the President 
upon the recommendation of the Council.
The President may designate alternate representatives for each 
member in case of incapacity or vacancy.
c) The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) shall serve as the Secretariat of the 
ACMC, unless otherwise designated by the Council; and
d) The ACMC shall exercise the following powers and functions:
1. Formulate, adopt, and periodically update the National Anti- 
Corruption Mainstreaming Agenda (NACMA), including the long­
term integrity outlook and monitoring framework;
2. Issue policy directives, implementing rules, and performance 
benchmarks to guide national agencies and local government 
units in the mainstreaming of anti-corruption and integrity 
systems;
3. Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to 
agencies and institutions in the preparation of corruption risk 
maps, internal anti-corruption plans, and reporting mechanisms;
4. Conduct independent and random field validations, spot audits, 
and process reviews in coordination with oversight agencies, and 
issue recommendations for remedial or legal action as necessary;


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5. Coordinate with the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of 
Justice, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission, and other 
enforcement and disciplinary bodies in the filing of appropriate 
administrative, civil, or criminal cases arising from violations or 
findings made under this Act;
6. Compile, assess, and publish an Annual Anti-Corruption 
Compliance Report, containing agency performance summaries, 
implementation progress, institutional innovations, and verified 
cases of risk reduction or control failure, and submit the same to 
the Office of the President and the Congress of the Philippines;
7. Maintain and regularly update a National Corruption Risk 
Database and Monitoring Dashboard, which shall include 
disaggregated data on agency vulnerabilities, preventive 
measures adopted, whistleblower reports, and compliance levels;
8. Engage civil society, professional associations, and research 
institutions in evidence generation, participatory monitoring, 
feedback validation, and the dissemination of lessons and good 
practices;
9. Convene an annual Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Forum, with 
public and private sector stakeholders, to assess trends, 
recommend strategy adjustments, and promote cross-sector 
collaboration in addressing systemic corruption;
10. Promote integrity education and values formation in partnership 
with the education and explore, in coordination with the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of 
Education (DepEd), and relevant stakeholders, the integration of 
anti-corruption, civic ethics, and governance accountability into 
school and university curricula, leadership programs, and 
professional development courses, with a view to fostering long­
term cultural change; and


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11. Perform such other functions as may be necessary or incidental
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to the effective implementation of this Act and the attainment of
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its objectives.
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The DEPDev shall serve as the Secretariat of the Council, to be headed by an
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Executive Director appointed by the Chairperson from among senior officials or
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qualified professionals with expertise in governance, public administration, or anti-
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corruption systems.
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The Secretariat shall provide technical, administrative, and logistical support to
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the ACMC, including the coordination of meetings, documentation of proceedings,
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management of reports, facilitation of consultations, and maintenance of the Public
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Disclosure Dashboard and Corruption Risk Database.
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To effectively carry out its mandate, the Secretariat may augment its personnel
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complement through new plantilla positions, secondments, or contractual
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arrangements, and shall be provided the necessary budget support for operations,
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capacity development, and information system needs. The required funding shall be
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charged to the appropriations of the DEPDev and included in its annual budget under
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the General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 7. Duties of Government Agencies and Compiiance Mechanisms. - To
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institutionalize anti-corruption mainstreaming within public administration, all national
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government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs),
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constitutional bodies, and local government units (LGUs) shall comply with the
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following:
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a) Submission of Corruption Vulnerability List. - Each agency shall prepare
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and submit annually a Corruption Vulnerability List, which shall be certified
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under oath by the Head of Agency. The list shall include an inventory of
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actual, historical, and potential corruption activities and risks, organized by
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process area, transaction type, responsible unit or personnel category,
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enabling environment, and pattern of recurrence or exposure;
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b) Development and Implementation of an Internal Anti-Corruption Plan. -
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Each agency shall develop, adopt, and implement a comprehensive
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Internal Anti-Corruption Plan that outlines:
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1. Preventive and control measures;


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2. Monitoring and enforcement responsibilities;
3. Timelines and performance targets; and
4. Required system reforms or digital enhancements, where 
applicable.
c) Institutionalization of Anti-Corruption Practices. - Agencies shall embed 
anti-corruption awareness and safeguards into their operations through 
the following measures:
1. Integration of corruption risk awareness and controls into 
onboarding manuals, competency standards, job descriptions, 
training programs, and operational handbooks;
2. Public display of simplified process flows, red flags, and integrity 
reminders in high-risk service areas such as procurement, 
licensing, permitting, and disbursement units; and
3. Establishment of an internal unit or team responsible for 
corruption monitoring and compliance oversight, which may be 
embedded in the Internal Audit Service, Legal Office, GAD Focal 
Point System, or equivalent.
d) Promotion of Innovation and Digital Risk Tools. - Agencies are encouraged 
to adopt and localize technological solutions, including but not limited to:
1. Anonymous whistleblowing portals and digital grievance redress 
systems; and
2. Data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence (Al)-enabled 
tools to detect anomalies, flag irregular transactions, and prevent 
manual override of controls.
e) Perception and Feedback Surveys. - Each agency shall conduct an 
employee and client integrity perception survey at least once every two 
(2) years to assess cultural shifts, public confidence, and front-line service 
risk; and
f) Anti-Corruption Compliance Reporting. - Each agency shall submit an 
Annual Anti-Corruption Compliance Report to the ACMC. This report may 
be submitted as a standalone document or as a section within the agency's 
annual report or performance accountability submissions to oversight


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institutions such as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), 
the Commission on Audit (COA), or the Civil Service Commission (CSC), as 
applicable. The report shall summarize the following:
1. Updated corruption vulnerability risks;
2. Implementation status of the Internal Anti-Corruption Plan;
3. Innovations adopted to strengthen integrity systems;
4. Actions taken on grievances or internal referrals;
5. Internal and external challenges encountered.
The ACMC shall issue guidelines on harmonizing such reporting 
requirements with existing performance and accountability frameworks.
Sec. 8. Public Disclosure and Integrity Dashboard. -
a) There shall be established a centralized Public Disclosure Dashboard, 
to be developed, maintained, and regularly updated by the Secretariat 
of the ACMC, in coordination with the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT);
b) The dashboard shall serve as the government's official public 
transparency portal on anti-corruption mainstreaming and shall 
contain, subject to data privacy limitations, the following:
1. Agency-level summaries of corruption risks, internal control 
initiatives, and monitoring results, with identifying names 
redacted as necessary;
2. Status reports on the implementation of Internal Anti- 
Corruption Plans, including performance indicators and audit 
trail enhancements;
3. Integrity metrics, benchmarks, and compliance scores per 
agency, developed in accordance with guidelines to be issued 
by the ACMC.
c) The dashboard shall be accessible to citizens, civil society, and 
researchers for monitoring, participation, and policy feedback. Civil 
society organizations, sectoral councils, academic institutions, and 
citizens shall be granted access to the dashboard for monitoring, 
research, or feedback purposes. Verified reports and constructive
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assessments submitted through the platform shall be officially received 
and reviewed by the ACMC Secretariat; and 
d) The ACMC shall ensure the usability, security, and real-time updating 
of the dashboard and shall explore partnerships to promote public 
awareness and utilization of the tool.
Sec. 9. Whistleblower Protection and Incentives. -
a) A strengthened Whistleblower Protection Program is hereby 
institutionalized to protect individuals who, in good faith and without 
malice, disclose corrupt practices, systemic risks, or institutional 
misconduct in the public sector.
In furtherance of this provision, the Anti-Corruption 
Mainstreaming Council (ACMC), in coordination with the Office of the 
Ombudsman, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Department 
of Justice (DOJ), shall promulgate harmonized guidelines for the 
implementation of whistleblower protection across government 
agencies.
The Program shall recognize, align, and build upon existing 
protection mechanisms under the Ombudsman Rules of Procedure, the 
Civil Service Rules, and the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the 
DOJ, and shall include the following guarantees:
1. Freedom from Retaliation. - Whistleblowers shall be protected 
from reprisal, including but not limited to administrative 
harassment, constructive dismissal, demotion, unjust transfer, or 
denial of promotion;
2. Confidentiality and Safe Reporting. - Agencies shall ensure the 
confidential handling of identities and reports. Digital and 
physical whistleblower systems shall be secure, independent, 
and accessible;
3. Access to Assistance. - Whistleblowers may request legal 
assistance, psychosocial support, temporary reassignment, or 
relocation, subject to protocols established in the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations;
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b) Subject to rules on confidentiality, whistleblowers who contribute to the 
successful identification, resolution, or prosecution of corruption risks or 
violations may be granted commendations, awards, or financial 
incentives, in accordance with ACMC-issued criteria and subject to 
budget availability; and
c) The rights and protections of whistleblowers shall be upheld regardless 
of the outcome of the investigation, provided the disclosure was made 
in good faith and absent malice or gross negligence.
Sec. 10. Investigation and Enforcement Coordination. -
a) The Anti-Corruption Mainstreaming Council (ACMC) shall have the 
authority to refer verified reports, risk alerts, and unresolved control 
breaches to the appropriate investigative and prosecutorial bodies, 
including the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice (DOJ), 
or law enforcement agencies, as may be warranted under applicable 
laws;
b) The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is hereby authorized to initiate 
civil actions for the recovery of public funds, restitution of damages, or 
administrative forfeiture of unlawfully acquired assets, based on 
documentary referrals or corruption risk triggers submitted by the ACMC 
or partner agencies;
c) All government agencies, government-owned or -controlled 
corporations, and local government units shall cooperate with formal 
investigations, internal reviews, or field validation exercises initiated 
under this Act, and shall respond to official requests for documents, 
explanations, or records by the ACMC, Office of the Ombudsman, or the 
OSG within fifteen (15) working days from receipt of such request, 
unless a longer period is justified and approved by the requesting body; 
and
d) Failure to comply with investigation-related requests under this section 
may constitute obstruction of compliance and may be subject to 
administrative or disciplinary proceedings.
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Sec. 11. Institutional Culture and Integrity Mainstreaming. -
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All covered entities shall undertake measures to strengthen ethical awareness,
3 
agency-wide accountability, and a proactive culture of integrity. These shall include,
4 
but not be limited to, the following:
5 
a) Monthly "Integrity Check-In" Bulletins or Communications. - Agencies shall
6 
publish internal updates on compliance efforts, process reminders, risk
7 
alerts, and success stories related to corruption prevention and
8 
institutional reforms;
9 
b) Quarterly Integrity Discussions. - Government offices shall dedicate at
10 
least one flag-raising ceremony or equivalent internal gathering per
11 
quarter to discuss agency integrity performance, lessons from past issues,
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or updates on anti-corruption 
plans;
13 
c) Recognition of Good Practice. - Heads of agencies are encouraged to
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establish merit-based internal recognition programs or awards for offices,
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teams, or personnel that have demonstrated strong internal controls, zero
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verified incidents, or exceptional contributions to risk reduction and
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institutional ethics;
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d) Inclusion in Performance Management. - Compliance with the provisions
19 
of this Act and agency integrity efforts shall be considered in the
20 
performance evaluation of relevant units and accountable officers,
21 
consistent with existing civil service rules; and
22 
e) Media Engagement and Transparency. - Agencies shall recognize the role
23 
of media, including independent journalists and public information
24 
platforms, as essential partners in promoting transparency and
25 
accountability. Subject to applicable laws on data privacy, security, and
26 
due process, agencies are encouraged to share non-confidential integrity
27 
data, compliance reports, and reform updates with the public and the
28 
media, and to respond to good faith inquiries on corruption risks and
29 
institutional efforts.
30 
The ACMC shall issue guidelines to support responsible information disclosure,
31 
promote transparency protocols, and facilitate constructive engagement with the
32 
press and other public interest communicators.
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Sec. 12. Monitoring, Evaiuation, and Legisiative Review. -
2 
a) The ACMC shall develop and adopt a Results-Based Monitoring and
3 
Evaluation Framework for this Act, which shall include measurable Key
4 
Performance Indicators (KPIs) for institutional integrity, risk mitigation,
5 
and compliance;
6 
b) The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)
7 
shall assist Congress in conducting a triennial legislative review of this
8 
Act, and shall prepare an implementation assessment, emerging risk
9 
landscape, and policy improvement recommendations based on
10 
nationwide compliance and performance data;
11 
c) The performance indicators to be used shall include, but not be limited
12 
to, the following:
13 
1. The number, quality, and trend of corruption risks identified
14 
and disclosed per agency or sector;
15 
2. The extent of execution and success of Internal Anti-
16 
Corruption Plans, including resolution of previously reported
17 
risks;
18 
3. Changes in employee and citizen perception of transparency,
19 
accountability, and institutional trust 
as measured through
20 
independent surveys or audit-based ratings; 
and
21 
4. Innovations or reforms introduced as a result of internal or
22 
ACMC-led assessments.
23 
d) The ACMC shall publish an Annual Anti-Corruption Compliance Report,
24 
which shall include agency-level summaries, highlights of reform efforts,
25 
dashboard analytics, and recommendations for further action. Such
26 
report shall be transmitted to the Office of the President and both
27 
Houses of Congress.
28 
Sec. 13. Harmonization with Existing Mandates. - Nothing in this Act shall
29 
diminish the mandates of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the Office of the
30 
Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, or other agencies involved in promoting
31 
transparency and accountability. The ACMC shall coordinate with these bodies to
32 
ensure synergy and avoid duplication of functions. The ACMC shall also issue
14


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harmonization guidelines, including integration of this Act's requirements with existing
2 
citizen charter compliance, audit protocols, and performance accountability systems.
3 
Sec. 14. Penalties and Administrative Sanctions. -
4 
a) Failure to Submit Required Reports. - Non-submission or unjustified
5 
delay in submitting the Corruption Vulnerability List or the Annual Anti-
6 
Corruption Compliance Report shall constitute gross neglect of duty, and
7 
may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with Civil
8 
Service laws and rules;
9 
b) Falsification or Misrepresentation. - Knowingly submitting falsified,
10 
incomplete, or materially misleading corruption risk reports, or omitting
11 
known risks from declared lists, shall be considered a serious
12 
administrative offense, and shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings
13 
and, where warranted, criminal prosecution under applicable laws;
14 
c) Obstruction and Retaliation. - Any act of reprisal against a whistleblower
15 
or agency personnel who participates in the implementation of this Act,
16 
or any act that obstructs the lawful conduct of field validations, internal
17 
reviews, or data submissions, shall give rise to disciplinary, civil, or
18 
criminal liability, without prejudice to other sanctions provided under
19 
existing laws such as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and
20 
d) Institutional Accountability. - Where institutional non-compliance is
21 
established through repeated failure to report, validate, or act on
22 
documented corruption risks such as when an agency fails to act upon
23 
verified corruption risks or persistently fails to comply with the
24 
requirements of this Act for two (2) consecutive reporting cycles, the
25 
ACMC shall formally refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman
26 
and the Commission on Audit for appropriate legal, fiscal, or
27 
administrative action, without prejudice to existing oversight
28 
mechanisms.
29 
Sec. 15. Appropriations. -The funds necessary for the implementation of this
30 
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the concerned
31 
agencies. Thereafter, such amounts shall be included in the annual General
32 
Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the ACMC shall promulgate the implementing rules and 
regulations in consultation with relevant agencies and stakeholders.
Sec. 17. Transition and Phase-In. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of 
this Act and its IRR, all covered agencies shall have:
a) Submitted an initial Corruption Vulnerability List and draft Internal Anti- 
Corruption Plan;
b) Designated a unit or team responsible for compliance monitoring under 
this Act;
c) Registered with the data reporting portal or other similar platform or 
mechanism established by ACMC; and
d) Participated in at least one ACMC-led orientation, training, or consultative 
session.
The ACMC may issue supplemental guidelines to facilitate phased 
implementation by agency size, mandate, or risk level. Technical assistance shall be 
prioritized for local government units and under-resourced agencies.
Sec. 18. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and 
effect.
Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly.
Sec. 20. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,
16