Protesters display signs calling for systemic reform during a public rally addressing long-standing governance concerns in the Philippines.
In one of his interviews with journalist Cathy Yang, Ramon del Rosario Jr. offered a direct assessment of the Philippines’ corruption problem. He said corruption has grown on “greed and the ability to get away with it” and explained how a system formed in which “everyone was in on it” and silence allowed wrongdoing to become “the monster it is today.” He did not present technical details or identify individual officials. Instead, he focused on how a culture of impunity took shape and continued across political cycles.
Del Rosario’s comments carry weight because of his record. He served as Finance Secretary during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, a period that many economic analysts describe as one of the more reform-driven and outward-looking eras of the modern Philippine economy. The Ramos government advanced economic liberalization, privatization and infrastructure development under the Philippines 2000 agenda. Growth strengthened in the mid-1990s. Although the Philippines felt the impact of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, several studies credit earlier reforms with improving fiscal discipline and macroeconomic management during that period.
After leaving government, del Rosario returned to the private sector and remained active in governance and policy reform efforts. He continues to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PHINMA Corporation, a role reflected in the company’s most recent disclosures. He also participated in business and civic organizations such as the Makati Business Club, the Integrity Initiative and competitiveness-related forums.
He now serves as Co-Convenor of the Roundtable for Inclusive Development, a coalition of business and civic leaders focused on public accountability. These platforms have kept him engaged in national conversations on transparency, competitiveness and institutional integrity and have contributed to the influence his views hold in both public and private sectors.
Del Rosario frames corruption as a system shaped by incentives, culture and silence, rather than as a list of individual acts or personalities. He describes how the system expanded because many actors tolerated or ignored misconduct and because silence, whether motivated by fear, resignation or personal interest, allowed abuses to deepen. He sees corruption as an institutional and cultural issue rather than a series of isolated incidents.
He also cautioned that rising public anger should not be turned into a political tool. He said the public deserves seriousness and fact-based discussion, not partisan exploitation. According to him, effective investigations must be impartial and grounded in evidence, because communities need to trust that the process is fair and that any conclusions follow from verified facts.
Del Rosario added that silence played a central role in the country’s current situation. Many people stayed quiet not only out of fear but also because they assumed that the system could not change. That resignation, he suggested, allowed corruption to grow into the very “monster” he described.
The broader factual record in the Philippines supports this context. Commission on Audit findings, Senate hearings and investigative journalism have documented recurring weaknesses in project implementation and procurement processes. These include overpricing, substandard or defective work, delayed or incomplete projects and contracts that did not achieve their intended scope. In some instances, auditors questioned projects that appeared complete in documents but were inadequate or missing upon inspection. These findings come from public documents and media reporting, and they help explain why del Rosario’s concerns resonate publicly.
The consequences of such weaknesses are immediate and tangible. When public works projects do not meet standards, the risks associated with flooding, road failure or infrastructure deterioration increase. When public funds do not result in functioning infrastructure or reliable services, trust in government declines. Communities absorb the financial burden, the safety risks and the long-term erosion of public confidence.
For Filipinos overseas, the issue is closely watched. A significant share of the Philippine economy is supported by remittances from workers and migrants living abroad. Many continue to invest in families and local communities while hoping that public institutions can manage resources responsibly and predictably. The diaspora has seen periods when reforms strengthened institutions and raised confidence, including during the Ramos period. It has also witnessed how institutional weaknesses can undermine progress when oversight is inconsistent or politicized.
Del Rosario does not attribute responsibility to any single administration. He points to the accumulation of choices over time. In his view, corruption hardened because many actors believed they could avoid consequences and because others believed the system would not change. His comments suggest that meaningful reform requires consistent enforcement, credible oversight and standards that apply regardless of political alignment.
The idea at the center of his warning is straightforward. A society eventually reflects the behavior it accepts. The reverse is also true. When expectations rise and accountability becomes non-negotiable, institutions begin to recalibrate. The process is gradual, but it is possible.
Del Rosario speaks as someone who observed the Philippines during a period of reform and who has watched later controversies test that progress. His reminder is clear. Corruption grew because silence became habit. Reform begins when silence ends. The Philippines has rebuilt before, even in more difficult circumstances, and it has the capacity to do so again.
What comes next depends on whether citizens and institutions choose resignation or integrity. The path forward is not mysterious. It rests on a society deciding what kind of nation it intends to shape for the future.
