Increasing Access to Participation in Monitoring Infrastructure Projects at the Barangay Level (PHSC0003)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Action plan – South Cotabato, Philippines, 2022 – 2025
Inception Report: Inception Report – Action plan – South Cotabato, Philippines, 2022 – 2025
Commitment Start: Mar 2025
Commitment End: Apr 2025
Institutions involved:
- Provincial Government of South Cotabato - Provincial Planning and Development Office - Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring Division
- Department of the Interior and Local Government XII
- National Economic and Development Authority XII
- Provincial Cooperative Development Office
Primary Policy Area:
Primary Sector:
OGP Value:
- Access to information
- Civic Participation
- Public Accountability
Inception Report Summary
Verifiable: Unclear
Relevance to OGP Values: Unclear
The commitment is a continuation of ongoing practice in line with existing legislation, policies or requirements.
The commitment activities have no indication of the added value or enhanced open government approach in contrast with existing practice.
To view the detailed final assessment of this commitment read the End of Commitment Report
Description
Commitment ID
PHSC0003
Commitment Title
Increasing Access to Participation in Monitoring Infrastructure Projects at the Barangay Level
Problem
The Provincial Project Monitoring Committee (PPMC) of the provincial government, composed of members from the provincial government and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), conducts quarterly monitoring of infrastructure projects with more than -15% slippage as per Program Evaluation and Review Technique – Critical Path Method (PERT-CPM). Thus, monitoring of these projects should be regular, efficient, transparent, and participatory.
Status quo
Monitoring results should be available to the public for comment and feedback. However, usually the results of the monitoring are only confined to the members of the PPMC and to the Provincial Development Council (PDC) during quarterly PDC meetings. While the PDC is represented by accredited CSOs, not all CSOs cascade the monitoring results to their members. As such, it is near impossible for the general public to know the real time status of the projects since the monitoring results are not posted or available online for public comment/feedback.
With this, the public has limited opportunity to provide additional information and feedback on the actual status of the projects (e.g. delayed implementation, poor quality of materials or poor utilization of funds) or if the recommendations as reflected on the monitoring results are implemented/acted upon by the concerned agencies.
Action
The commitment involves inviting CSO members of the organized People’s Councils from the different component LGUs of the province on the different aspects of procurement and eventual implementation.
The commitment also aims to enhance the monitoring process and strengthen public engagement or the involvement of directly impacted communities at the barangay level by complying with DILG MC 2020-070.
How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?
Once the commitment has been conducted, a wider space for citizens, barangay officials, and CSOs to collaborate with the provincial government to address issues on project implementation will be opened. Participation in project monitoring will allow the public to provide feedback to improve infrastructure project implementation.
As the monitoring findings and recommendations are opened to the public, contractors and concerned government officials will be held accountable for the project delays and slippages. At the same time, other concerned agencies will also be held accountable for complying with report findings.
In line with this, the existing grievance redressed mechanism/s (e.g. blacklisting of contractors or filing of cases) of the province will be strengthened to ensure accountability.
What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?
In the long run, the improved quality of infrastructure projects will increase rural-urban integration, support economic growth and improve access of the poor to basic socio-economic services as health, education and livelihood development. Hence, this commitment impacts the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)--in line with the province's development direction supporting the international agenda for sustainable development.
As for the outcome, the relevant SDGs include 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 16 (Peace, and Justice, and Strong Institutions), and goal number 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Primary Policy Area
Civic Space, Social Accountability
Primary Sector
Infrastructure & Transport, Private Sector
What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?
| Access to information | Informing prospective BPMEC members of their right to organize and responsibilities in monitoring infrastructure projects allows them access to information regarding government infrastructure projects such as the infrastructure project plans and cost breakdowns. |
| Civic Participation | Informing the general public, especially the prospective BPMEC members of their rights and responsibilities as stated in the DILG MC 2020-070 and other relevant issuances from other line agencies encourages participation from the grassroots considering the composition of the Committees (local government officials including from the youth sector, school heads, civil society organizations, etc.). |
| Public Accountability | Due to the increased participation of the general public in the monitoring and evaluation of infrastructure projects, the local government and even private project contractors will become more accountable and efficient in the implementation of the said projects. |