New coalition joins modern ‘People Power’ vs ghost projects
A coalition of business leaders, church groups and government officials has come together to ramp up monitoring and validation of public infrastructure projects, an initiative organizers framed as a modern “People Power Movement” against alleged “ghost” projects.
This coalition includes the embattled Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) through Caritas Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG).
It effectively gives the church and business groups access to DPWH records and sets up a coordinated mechanism for information sharing, field monitoring and case documentation involving government-funded infrastructure.
Caritas Philippines executive director Fr. Carmelo Caluag said the partnership marks “the formalization of sacred trust,” adding the coalition would form a “mechanism that leaves little room for anomaly.”
“We are ensuring that the ‘People’s Power Movement’ is not just a sentiment, but a structured, nationwide safeguard for our nation’s resources,” Caluag added.
‘Whole-of-society approach’
Under the agreement, the DPWH will provide project data, including titles, locations, contract amounts, contractors and implementation status, through its transparency portal.
It will also designate focal persons and technical teams to coordinate with partner organizations and respond to validated reports of suspected anomalies.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the department had made bidding documents and contracts publicly accessible through the portal, allowing outside groups to review project information.
DPWH technical teams have also begun briefing Caritas representatives nationwide on how to access the system and upload field documentation, including photos and geo-tagged reports, Dizon added.
Caritas Philippines, meanwhile, will mobilize its nationwide network of 86 dioceses and parishes to assist in monitoring projects on the ground.
The PCCI will contribute technical expertise through its network of business associations, including construction and materials groups.
“The private sector cannot be on the sidelines anymore,” PCCI president Ferdinand Ferrer said at the signing of the memorandum of cooperation’s implementing rules late Monday. “We are here to be partners with our government.”
M4GG, a coalition of local chief executives, will coordinate with local governments and help connect community reports to formal investigative processes.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that while any individual or group may file a complaint, cases must be supported by documentation and expert validation to withstand investigation.
For the coalition, the initiative represents a “whole-of-society” approach aimed at institutionalizing cooperation.
“Transparency is the best disinfectant, and today, we are putting that into practice,” Dizon said.
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