Government to launch transparency website for infra projects

MANILA, Philippines - The government will launch a website by yearend to provide information about its infrastructure projects to prevent corruption and promote transparency.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the “freedom of information portal” will provide information about contracts, status of projects and their contractors.

“The President said ‘I promised you a clean government. I promised you a government that will not be corrupt because I will not tolerate corruption,’” he said.

“This statement has moved all of us, in relation to this project, to open up a freedom of information portal. In other words, you can view information about all the projects in this freedom of information portal.” 

The plan to launch a transparency portal was announced as the government is asking Congress for special powers to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila.

Some lawmakers have filed bills seeking to grant special powers to the Duterte administration, but some sectors are concerned that it could lead to abuses.

Tugade said they will comply with the freedom of information in connection with the emergency powers.

“We shall be transparent and we shall be accountable,” he said. “Given those three yardsticks, please give it to us. We have a lot of things to do.” 

There were also reports that some Chinese companies with dubious reputations, including those blacklisted by the World Bank, are planning to participate in projects. Officials, however, have given assurance that measures would be in place to ensure that only qualified companies would deal with the government.