Recto urges gov't to post ongoing projects on Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on Monday pushed for transparency and urged government to open a Facebook account for every government infrastructure project.

In a statement, Recto urged government agencies to post their projects on Facebook to allow the 30 million taxpayers on it to easily monitor implementation and progress.

"If there's a proposed bridge in a town, then the field office of the DPWH can open an 'FB Group on the Construction of Juan de la Cruz Bridge,' adding details such as the cost, timetable, name of contractor, and approved budget ceiling,” he said.

Since many Filipinos own mobile phones with functioning cameras, Recto said it will be easy to upload captured photos showing construction situation, including its progress and delay on the government-run Facebook group.

With the implementation of project transparency through the social networking site, the public will be free to raise concerns and issue comments on the government's projects freely in "one untapped, free and effective tracking tool."

"The beauty with Facebook is that if there's a post saying it is proceeding as scheduled, and then you can 'like' it. If there's a photo showing no work has been done, then you can share it. Either way, you can comment to give your praise or displeasure. Pwede ka sumama sa 'unlikers',” Recto explained.

Recto said bringing the monitoring online will keep the government from spending billions of pesos annually to monitor and evaluate taxpayer-funded projects with expensive consultants when there is an alternative source for project monitoring.

Monitoring on Facebook can begin as the project is approved under the General Appropriations Act.

"Kung yung usual karatula lang 'yan or tarpaulin sa project site mismo, 'yung dumadaan lang ang nakakakita. Paano kung isang irrigation reservoir sa bundok na unggoy lang ang nakatira? Meron bang makakabasa ng billboard doon?” Recto asked.

Recto similarly said that Facebook will also be an effective tool in measuring delivery of non-infrastructure projects, like schools and hospital equipment.

"Para doon sa hindi gagamitan ng semento, FB is the keyhole through which we can peep if they're being done right and on time. Kung farm tractors at ibang farm equipment, halimbawa, pwedeng mag-open ng isang account per region at doon i-post ang updates," Recto said.

President Benigno Aquino III said in his budget message for 2016 that the government's infrastructure budget will reach P766.5 billion next year or equivalent to 5 percent of the gross domestic product.

The government plans to build 43,000 classrooms and build or renovate almost 12,000 barangay health town clinics and hospitals, supplied with equipment in 2016. Recto said the number of projects will hike into hundreds of thousands.