By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The Marcos Jr. administration’s digitalization efforts are key to achieving transparency and accountability in government, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement on Saturday, May 24.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “two-pronged approach” streamlines and digitalizes government processes to eliminate avenues for corruption and guarantee full public disclosure, Bersamin said in a column published in a local newspaper.
“This strategy recognizes a fundamental truth: corruption thrives in opacity, while transparency fosters integrity,” Bersamin said.
“As we advance our vision of ‘Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines),’ the Philippines’ experience offers valuable lessons on how digital transformation empowers citizens, creates transparency and establishes accountability,” he added.
Bersamin, however, echoed President Marcos’ previous statement that digital transformation would not defeat corruption, as “deeper cultural change” is needed to advance the fight against any irregularities in government.
“Technology must be paired with Filipino values of ‘katapatan, malasakit, pakikipag-kapwa and bayanihan’ to create lasting impact. When government officials embody these values, citizens receive respectful service, fair treatment, and equal access to opportunities,” he said.
Bersamin also stressed the need to continue collaborating with international partners such as the United Nations (UN), noting that the Philippines’ partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been instrumental in strengthening the country’s reform agenda.
He added that the country’s continued engagement with UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) processes is crucial in ensuring that the government “truly serves those it is meant to represent” by building public institutions “worthy of our people’s trust.”
“Collaborating with international partners, such as the United Nations, is essential. Multilateralism helps create platforms for countries to learn from each other, exchange best practices while adapting solutions and global standards to local contexts,” Bersamin said.
ES Bersamin hails passage of NGPA
Bersamin cited that the passage of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) in 2024, which resulted from the collaboration with the UNODC, enhances the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and introduces an innovative e-Marketplace modeled after popular e-commerce platforms.
He also highlighted a key innovation in the NGPA, which mandates all prospective bidders, suppliers, contractors, and consultants to identify the ultimate owners before participating in government procurement.
“This groundbreaking provision directly addresses bid collusion, where different companies controlled by the same individual bid against each other for the same contract,” Bersamin said.
Bersamin said the disclosure requirement also helps reveal hidden conflicts of interest that might compromise the integrity of the procurement process.
“For citizens, this means greater assurance that public funds aren’t being diverted through shadow companies or manipulated bidding. For honest businesses, it creates a more level playing field where merit rather than connections determines who wins government contracts,” he added.
With the sustained reforms, the Philippines now ranks sixth among 18 countries in the Asia Pacific Digital Nations Index and leader in Southeast Asia in digital governance, Bersamin said. (PNA)
