MANILA, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday called on the church and the business sector to join in the government's anti-corruption fight.

    Arroyo said in a speech at the 28th general assembly and annual meeting of the Bishop-Businessmen's Conference (BBC) that she expected her cabinet "to work closely with the BBC to craft, enforceable, doable and not motherhood anti-corruption programs."

    She instructed Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo and Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao to study the BBC's proposals on how to fight corruption, including:

    The need for specially trained prosecutors and investigators toact on all cases of graft and corruption;

    The need to involve all sectors at all levels to scrutinize projects that are usually made transparent so that the people especially the poor can actually see the benefits accruing to them from governance;

    The terms of bidding of government funded projects and all other contracts or agreements of the government to private sectors be made clear and available for public scrutiny without exception unless national security is involved;

    And lastly, ensure transparency, accountability, participation,and communication as a vehicle for good governance.

    Arroyo pointed out that fighting corruption was an uphill battle as grafters "maybe in cahoots with robe elements in the criminal justice system from law enforcers, prosecutors to judges and justices."

    She also acknowledged that some politicians and government officials increasingly were doing business with political and office power.

    "That is why I need earnest partners and what could otherwise be a lonely battle against corruption...I can count on our partnership to fight for unprecedented change that stamps out corruption," she said.

    The 57-year-old economist and daughter of a former president, who was successfully reelected in the May 10 polls, pledged to take a tough line against the corruption that dogs the country in the fresh new 6-year term. Enditem