Local Perceived Corruption Index (PCI) Act (Proposed)

The right of every Filipino to transparent and accountable local governance is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. However, while national corruption rankings exist, there remains no system for measuring and publicly reporting corruption perceptions at the level where it affects citizens most: their own city or municipality. Many voters lack access to reliable data on how their local officials are perceived in terms of honesty, service delivery, and misuse of power—leaving them vulnerable to deception during elections.

This proposed law mandates the annual creation and publication of a Local Perceived Corruption Index (PCI) for all Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines. The index will be based on CoA audit reports. Each LGU will receive a transparency score and ranking. The results must be published in public bulletin boards, official LGU websites, and national databases for citizen access.

To ensure independence, the PCI will be administered by a non-partisan body composed of representatives from the Commission on Audit (COA), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), accredited civil society organizations (CSOs), and academic institutions. LGUs with the lowest PCI scores will be required to present corrective action plans within 90 days. Persistent low scores over three consecutive years may trigger a DILG investigation and potential administrative sanctions, especially if corroborated by evidence of misconduct or anomalies.

The PCI aims to institutionalize local transparency, reward ethical governance, and give voters a credible tool to compare leaders objectively. It transforms abstract complaints into data and data into accountability. With this law, elections will no longer rely on slogans, songs, or giveaways, but on measurable trustworthiness in public service.