Forget Rallies — This New Anti-Corruption Movement Sends Citizens to Inspect Government Projects Themselves
Just days before the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, a new kind of people power is emerging — and it’s happening not on the streets but at construction sites across the Philippines.
Civil society groups, church leaders, and government officials launched ‘Bisto Proyekto: Ang Bagong People Power’ on Saturday at Adamson University in Manila. The initiative, led by anti-corruption group TAPAT, trains ordinary citizens to become authorized monitors of government infrastructure projects.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) formalized the partnership by signing a memorandum of agreement. DPWH Undersecretary Nick Conti was blunt about why it’s needed: ‘With an average of over 20,000 projects annually, we cannot inspect them all. This is one reason why they are emboldened to hide their tracks.’
TAPAT lead Dondon Parafina explained the vision: ‘We don’t need to be an engineer or an advocate to do this. If the people will be watching over every island and corner of the Philippines, there will be no more ghost and substandard projects.’ Citizens get safe access to sites and project documents under the agreement.
It’s a powerful evolution of the People Power spirit — from marching to monitoring. With the flood control scandal still fresh in everyone’s minds, this grassroots approach to accountability couldn’t come at a better time. Ang bagong people power, nasa kamay ng taumbayan.
Source: Rappler
