The British Embassy in Manila and the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday signed an agreement that will strengthen the capacity of the agency’s anticorruption efforts.

In a statement, the British embassy said that has entered into a memorandum of agreement on the Accountable Grant for the Conduct of Specialized Training Enhancement (Spectre) with the Ombudsman.

The agreement aims to boost the institutional capacity of the ombudsman’s office against corruption “by enhancing the investigative and intelligence capability of field investigators through sustainable training program.”

The program will expect an increase of 10 percent in disposition rate for corruption cases.

“The Spectre is designed to continually reinforce, update and intensify the knowledge and capabilities of field investigators,” the statement from the embassy said.

The training will begin on January 25 for the first batch.

As for Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, she said that it is “imperative to strengthen the investigative capability of Ombudsman investigators who must be one step ahead in techniques, strategies, skills and technology in their work.”

She also said that there is a need in forging alliances with development partners like the British Embassy to combat corruption.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie acknowledged the Philippine government’s anticorruption efforts as one of the key factors that can boost the country’s economic growth.

“President [Benigno] Aquino’s anticorruption slogan ‘kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap’ has clearly resonated with the public and is widely supported by businesses. The anticorruption agenda is at the heart of efforts to bring greater prosperity and development to the Philippines,” he said in a statement.

“Confidence in government and a level playing field free from corruption can boost trade and investment and can help the Philippines reach its potential to be perhaps the 16th largest economy in the world by mid century,” he added.

Lillie said that the British embassy will continue to support the agency, particularly in skills development.

“We believe that strengthening the capacity of investigators and prosecutors will help result in a stronger enforcement of the law and produce successful prosecutions of more cases of corruption; ultimately improving the international reputation of the Philippines as an excellent place in which to do business,” the envoy said.

In 2012, the embassy has supported the government’s anticorruption drive by promoting what the UK’s Bribery Act requires of companies.

The embassy also earlier worked with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in bringing in British experts to help train government agencies and key stakeholders on the advancement in antimoney laundering laws and enforcement.