The Arroyo government has made gains in the anti-corruption campaign and expects the next administration to carry on the daunting task, a Palace official said Wednesday.

Reacting to a survey that showed the country was ranked fourth most corrupt economy in Asia Pacific, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar admitted that corruption is an old problem that could be resolved by an overhaul of Filipino culture in time.

“Corruption is an old, old problem in our culture, and not just institutions.

This culture extends to our political and civic lives,” Olivar said in a radio interview.

Olivar said the government has augmented the budget and resources of the Office of the Ombudsman to curb corruption in the bureaucracy.

Apart from the civilian watchdogs monitoring the government’s every move, he said they have also instituted reforms in government procurement to minimize corruption.

"We do our share and we hope the next administration will continue the job. It is not a question of institutions and process. We must change our way of thinking and our culture over time," he said.

The annual poll by Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) placed the Philippines fourth in a table of regional economies with a score of 8.06. Indonesia was ranked the most corrupt economy with a score of 9.27, followed by Cambodia (9.10) and Vietnam (8.07).

Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) chairperson Constancia de Guzman said perceptions about corruption in the country are highlighted due to the political bickering during the election period.

De Guzman, in a radio interview, said candidates have thrown corruption charges against their opponents in an attempt to destroy their chances in the polls.

“Those who engage in mudslinging do not realize that while the act might help them gain more votes in May, it is giving the country a bad reputation internationally," she said.

De Guzman said PAGC would continue to work hard to prosecute erring public officials in the remainder of the President’s term. She said the agency works closely with the Civil Service Commission to promote moral values in public service.