DOTr taps citizen participation in monitoring transport projects
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) aimed at strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of big-ticket transport projects through citizen reporting.
In a Facebook post, the DOTr said that it will be working with the DBM in implementing the Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation (Dime) project, which allows citizens to monitor the government’s infrastructure projects through the website dime.gov.ph.
“It is the order of the President that government projects should benefit the public. This system developed by the DBM and our partners in the academe will be instrumental in making sure that government projects will reach and benefit Filipinos,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said during the signing.
He pointed out that public feedback will be crucial in making sure that transport projects benefit commuters.
Transparency
Dizon was joined by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Information Secretary Henry Aguda, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Romando Artes and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano in the event.
According to its website, Project Dime uses technologies such as satellites, drones and geotagging to monitor major government projects, with the goal of enhancing transparency and accountability.
It was initially launched in March 2018 by the DBM together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to “address the challenge of monitoring high-value government projects.”
Project Dime was terminated in December 2021 after the memorandum of agreement between the DBM and the DOST expired and by a “change of priority plans” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DBM, in collaboration with the Philippine Open Government Partnership (OGP), later relaunched Project Dime in 2023 as part of its Digital Transformation Roadmap, in support of the government’s ongoing digital transformation “to enhance bureaucratic efficiency and ensure sound fiscal management.”
The OGP was formed in 2011 by government leaders around the world and civil society advocates to promote transparent, participatory, inclusive and accountable governance.
It includes 74 countries, including the Philippines, 150 local governments and thousands of civil society organizations.
Public feedback
With the signing of the MOU, the DOTr will now be providing the DBM with detailed data on transportation infrastructure projects across its sectors, including the locations, status and timelines.
The DOTr will likewise conduct geospatial mapping and provide data and reports related to environmental impact assessments and social safeguards linked to transportation assets and facilities.
Currently, the Project Dime website allows visitors to view more than 11,000 government projects, providing information such as the project name, location, implementing agency, budget, start date/longevity and status.
By clicking on a certain project, visitors of the website can access additional information such as the budget source and a copy of the contract agreement, as well as news articles, photos and videos about the undertaking.
The public can also give feedback on a particular project by signing in with their Google accounts before posting their comments.
The DOTr noted that the MOU with the DBM is part of President Marcos’ directive to involve citizen participation in crowdsourcing reports of government projects.
On Aug. 11, the President launched the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, which allows citizens to check flood-control projects across the country and includes details of the projects such as the location, contractor, cost and completion date.
More than 2,000 complaints have been filed through the website just a week after its launch, Malacañang earlier announced.
