DICT launches transparency portals for PH gov’t agencies

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has launched a transparency portal that provide the public with easier access to budget information from government agencies.

During the Palace Press Briefing on Friday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the portal was an AI-powered site features a visual dashboard that presents budget breakdowns through charts, graphs, and infographics.

“One screen view lang kaya madaling intindihin at mobile-friendly pa siya kaya kahit sa basic smartphone po puwede ninyo na pong ma-access iyan,” he shared.

(It is a one screen view so it’s easy to understand, and it’s mobile friendly so it’s accessible even through a basic smartphone.)

The portal also has an AI chatbot that can converse in English, Tagalog, Taglish, or any other regional dialect.

 “Sasagot agad ang AI kasama ang breakdown at context. Hindi kailangang maging expert o marunong technical jargon, hindi ninyo na po kailangang maging accountant,” he added.

(The AI will immediately answer with a breakdown and context. You do not need to be an expert or know technical jargon, and you don’t need to be an accountant.)

Aguda noted that the portal was made to create a widespread digital transparency system for Filipinos to gain as much access and updates on the public fund utilized by the government.

“Iyong AI po ng tutulong sa ating para ma-figure out kung paano nagagastos ang isang bagay at ano iyong impormasyon na kayang maintindihan natin itong lahat,” he said.

(AI will help us figure out how something was bought and the information on it in a way that we will understand it all.)

Currently, a transparency portal for PhilHealth (philhealth.open.gov.ph) and SSS (sss.open.gov.ph) is now live online.

A transparency portal for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be accessible soon following its launch on Monday.

The DICT said other agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Health (DOH) will follow in the coming weeks.

“Mas maraming mata sa datos, mas mahirap magtago ng anomalya. Ang bawat Filipino at puwedeng maging watchdog ng gobyerno at diyan po sa ating transparency portal makakaasa kayong walang fake news,” Aguda said.

(The more eyes there are on the data, the harder it is to hide anomalies. Each Filipino can be watchdogs of the government and you can expect that there’s no fake news in these transparency portals.)

Meanwhile, Aguda clarified that the amendments and insertions had already been in place upon his designation as the DICT secretary last March 2025.

“Ang naging patakaran ko po sundin natin ang NEP (National Expenditure Program)… Kaya namin sinunod iyong NEP kasi noong pumasok po ako sa DICT, iyong utilization rate po namin ang baba, parang less than 10% lang Marso na iyon, Abril, Mayo. Eh ngayon po kung tatanungin ninyo kami iyong utilization rate namin ay nasa 60% na po,” he shared.

(My orders were to follow the NEP… The reason why we followed the NEP was that when I entered the DICT, our utilization rate was low, less than 10% in March, April, May. Now, if you ask us, our utilization rate is around 60%.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News