CEBU CITY (PNA) – A US expert in public and non-profit administration is urging Filipinos to play a vigilant role in eliminating corruption not only by avoiding corrupt practices but by helping to altogether scrap the culture of corruption in Government.

Dr. Lyle Wray, Executive Director of the Hartford, Connecticut-based Capitol Region Council of Governments also asked the local electorate to look beyond voting in the May 10 polls by getting involved in governance and speaking out regarding how their communities are managed.

“Electing honest and responsible leaders is a good start,” he said, “but it is not enough if citizens want efficiency in Government to continue.”

Wray, who is co-author of the book, “Results that Matter,” which is about improving communities by engaging citizens, measuring performance and getting things done was in Cebu for a roundtable discussion with students and local media. The activity was part of a lecture series conducted by Wray which was arranged by the US Embassy.

He told reporters that engaging various sectors in governance is a key to ensure that democracy in a society flourishes and that Government gets its work done.

Wray highlighted the need to engage people in addressing local problems directly affecting them like public transport concerns and health issues.

Democracy, he emphasized, “is not just about having fair elections, but being able to have ordinary citizens participate directly in setting the direction of their local government and identifying solutions to problems.”

Wray pointed out that “in a lot of places, democracy is taught at the local level. It starts at the local government; it gets harder if you start at the national level.”

The visiting US lecturer also said that ordinary citizens can get involved by simply attending town or city council meetings, pointing out problems or demanding accountability and transparency from their local officials, even through blogs and websites.

Learning from the American experience in the late 1800s and those of other countries that dealt with dictatorships and a long struggle with corruption, Wray said that while it may take decades to fully rid a corrupt government of the culture of corruption, this task is possible with the concerted effort of a free and responsible press, the academe, non-government organizations, among other sectors.

However, he was careful to say that this is not an easy task. In fact, he said, “it can be discouraging (and) that’s why I said only one percent of democracy is election; the rest is hard work.”

As executive director of Hartford, Connecticut’s Capitol Region Council of Governments since 2004, Wray is involved in regional planning of services in transportation, community development, public safety and homeland security.