Manila: Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez on Tuesday encouraged the public to actively monitor the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects through the newly enhanced transparency portal.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gomez, in an interview aired on TV5, described the improved DPWH Transparency Portal as an expanded and more accessible version of the Sumbong sa Pangulo platform. This new portal allows citizens to oversee government infrastructure projects and report any suspected irregularities.
Gomez highlighted that the AI-driven portal offers an extensive range of information with a user-friendly interface, facilitating easier reporting of potential anomalies in infrastructure projects, including substandard work. He noted the similarities with the previous platform but emphasized the expanded capabilities of the new portal, likening it to “Isumbong sa Pangulo 2.0.”
Gomez urged the public to utilize the portal to monitor local projects and report any perceived irregularities, stressing that transparency is its primary purpose. He explained that the new portal surpasses the previous focus on flood control projects, allowing users to search for any DPWH project and view critical details such as the implementing office, contractor, project cost, and project status.
Gomez reassured users about the portal’s accessibility, mentioning that he personally tested its functionality after the launch. He anticipated that the new platform would naturally replace the Office of the President’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website as reports transition to the DPWH-managed system.
While the portal is housed under the DPWH and developed in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Gomez confirmed that the Office of the President would still maintain visibility over the system. The DPWH Transparency Portal is expected to enhance public participation, deter corruption, and improve accountability in infrastructure project implementation nationwide.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. unveiled the DPWH Transparency Portal on Monday as part of continuing reforms to address corruption in public infrastructure projects. Marcos began his campaign against dubious flood control and other infrastructure projects with the launch of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website on August 11.
