MANILA – Public confidence in the Philippines’ governance has taken a hit as new data reveals a worsening perception of corruption within the country. The latest global index rankings show the nation posting its lowest score since 2012, raising alarms among economists and foreign investors alike.

The report highlights the prevalence of "grease money" – illicit payments made to facilitate routine government transactions – as a persistent issue hampering business efficiency. This decline in transparency comes at a critical time when the Philippines is aggressively courting foreign direct investment to boost its infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.

"This is a wake-up call," stated Maria Santos, a policy researcher at a Manila-based think tank. "When corruption becomes systemic, it acts as a hidden tax on growth. For a developing economy like ours, we cannot afford to lose credibility on the global stage."

Government officials have pledged to double down on anti-corruption drives, citing recent digitalization efforts as a key tool to reduce human intervention and graft. However, critics argue that without high-level accountability, technological solutions can only go so far.

The economic implications are stark. As regional neighbors like Vietnam and Thailand continue to improve their business environments, the Philippines risks falling behind if it cannot effectively address these governance concerns. The business community is now watching closely to see if the administration’s rhetoric will be matched by concrete reforms.