Public access to infra contracts remains a challenge —PCIJ

Access to data and documents regarding government projects and contracts remains to be a challenge for the public even with the recent passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI), a recent study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) revealed.

In its report entitled "Public Contracting in the Philippines: Breakthroughs and Barriers," the PCIJ said government agencies do not publish all documents related to the procurement of infrastructure projects.

According to its author Karol Ilagan, of the 35 documents that should be published in accordance with international guidelines under the Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS), only 60 percent is immediately available.

"The research shows that while agencies involved in the procurement of public works projects produce nearly all 35 documents, only 60 percent of these records are available at once," she said in a briefing in Quezon City on Thursday.

Ilagan said that out of the 35 documents, only 21 are available online or through a request within the 15-working day period mandated by the law.

"The rest are not uploaded online or could not be requested from agencies in a timely manner," she said.

The documents not immediately available at once included the list of shortlisted firms during the tender stage, the technical and financial bid of the winning bidder, the registration papers of the bidders, and possible conflicts of interests, among others.

Those immediately available, Ilagan said, are mostly the documents mandated by the law to be posted online.

"Most agencies, fina-follow lang po 'yung list na 'yun," she said, noting that government agencies do not usually upload documents which are not required.

"Whether or not a common standard can be adopted right now, posting contracting documents — from planning to implementation — for free is a key first step," she added.

In response, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) agreed with the key findings of the report, and said it was now working on improving the agency's transparency.

"All of the findings po, wala kaming any objections. We concur [with] the findings," Andro Santiago of the Stakeholders Relations Service of the DPWH said at the same briefing.

"Not all documents are published because we are bounded to some rules and policies, kung ano lang 'yung pwedeng i-publish," he said, as some parts of the documents may contain private information.

Santiago noted, however, that the government is open to giving the public access to such documents as long as those who obtain them are given accountability.

"Hindi lahat, maaari nating ibigay — siguro isa 'yan sa mga dapat nating tignan," he said.

"Kung sino man nabigyan ng info, maging accountable din para kung sakaling may hindi tama a maari rin siyang managot," he added.

The PCIJ's research was done from July to December 2017, with documentary research and consultations with agencies such as the DPWH, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commission and Audit (COA) among others.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the executive order on the Freedom of Information (FOI) in July 2017. — MDM, GMA News