By Brian Campued
For the first time ever, information on all infrastructure projects handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2016 up to the present is now open to the public through a newly launched transparency portal.
In a press conference at Malacañang on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of the AI-driven transparency portal to ensure transparency in government and restore public trust.
“Ang transparency portal ay hindi lang isang website. Ito ay isang pangako. Ito ay isang sagot na digital na pader laban sa korapsiyon, ang magpapatibay sa ating paniniwala na ang pamahalaan, bukas, tapat at nakikinig sa sambayanan,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Ginagawa natin full disclosure dahil karapatan na malaman ng lahat kung paano ginagastos ang pera ng bayan.”
The initiative was developed with support from private sector technology partners and the Philippine Space Agency.
Serving as a digital library for about 247,172 DPWH projects nationwide, the transparency portal can be accessed by the public to monitor its implementation as well as report any irregularities.
Each project will contain important details such as the implementing office, total project cost, progress rate, funding source, as well as satellite and geo-tagged images.
Website visitors may also view or download documents on the infrastructure projects, and monitor the DPWH’s bidding and procurement processes.
To add more convenience for users, the portal includes a conversational AI assistant in Filipino and English.
Project details, including images, geographic data, and downloadable copies of contract documents, and the status of contracts and projects, will be uploaded to the transparency portal every month.
“Dinisenyo ito para makatiyak na kahit hindi ka techie, kahit na hindi ka technical, eh madaling-madaling [gamitin] ito,” the President noted.
Marcos cited the recent revelations over corruption in flood control projects, which led to the public losing trust in the government—stressing the importance of systemic reforms alongside the filing of charges against the “wrong-doers”.
“Isa sa pinakamahalagang bagay na maliwanag na maliwanag na lumabas sa lahat ng mga imbestigasyon sa lahat ng mga pangyayari ay nawalan tayo ng transparency. Hindi nakikita ng tao kung ano talaga ang pangyayari sa loob ng pamahalaan,” he said.
He likewise urged the public to scrutinize projects and report any irregularities.
“Tiyakin natin na kung may makitang hindi tama o labag sa batas, aaksiyonan natin kaagad,” Marcos said.
“Kaya paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, lahat po ng ating mga kapuwa Pilipino, huwag kayong magdalawang-isip—[kung] mayroon kayong isusumbong, isumbong ninyo para mapag-aralan namin, matingnan namin, ma-assess naming kung talagang may problema.”
-jpv
