Dizon: When things are done in secret, accountability disappears

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday highlighted the importance of transparency in government transactions as he committed to leverage technology to overhaul the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) “systemic problems.”

At the 51st Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City, Dizon said “systemic problems require systemic solutions” and emphasized that long-standing problems at the DPWH stem from lack of transparency in project procurement and implementation.

He pointed out that solutions to these problems are technology, transparency, accountability, and active private sector engagement. 

“Transparency is essential. When things are done in secret, with only a few people involved, accountability disappears,” Dizon said.

The Public Works chief cited blockchain technology – which could make government documents publicly accessible, transparent, and immutable – as a key tool for reforms.

“Simple steps, like making all documents publicly accessible, are straightforward but transformative,” Dizon added.

Last month, the DPWH inked an agreement with the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP) to develop a blockchain-powered digital ledger initially for foreign-assisted infrastructure projects, which will be accessible to the public.

Both parties will develop an “Integrity Chain” to transform infrastructure governance by offering a real-time public dashboard that tracks project spending and progress.

This will enable citizen feedback and anomaly reporting and provide tamper-proof records to deter corruption.

Blockchain is defined as a digital database or ledger that stores data or records across a network of computers which is transparent and immutable, meaning it cannot be tampered with. — JMA, GMA Integrated News