One of the best projects I’ve seen in the civic tech movement is BetterGov.PH, which just celebrated its first anniversary. This all-volunteer movement aims to make Philippine government data and services more transparent, accessible, and easier to understand, and to hold government accountable for public money spent and projects delivered. It is powered by over 5,200 civic tech volunteers around the world, known as the Angry Nerds.
Over the past year, they have undertaken over 50 projects, gathered over 439 resources, and uploaded over 100 million public records.
BetterGov.PH is also a new collaborative model where volunteers, nongovernment organizations, businesses, the Church, and government work together regularly. Participating agencies include the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Budget and Management, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Procurement Service.
One of its most significant projects is the People’s Budget Coalition’s analysis of the national budget. The coalition of 40 nongovernment organizations and business associations aims to make the budget more open, humane, and equitable. It also helps civil society analyze city budgets and helps cities put them online.
The 2027 national budget is nearing final approval by year-end. The House committee on appropriations has reported it out, leaving few chances for reform: the plenary session and committee-level amendments. This is where insertions historically happen and visibility is lowest. The window for meaningful change is closing fast.
The coalition reports that the House version of the P7.2-trillion budget mirrors what the executive submitted. Unprogrammed appropriations, the practice behind the still-unresolved flood control scandal, remain in the 2027 budget. The coalition has red-flagged P970 billion in pork. This includes P680 billion in “hard pork,” infrastructure projects with no publicly accessible project-level data, and P112 billion in “soft pork” or unprogrammed appropriations. It also flagged P140 billion in “shadow pork,” basically “ayuda” released as social protection, and P38 billion in so-called “parliamentary courtesy,” funds allocated by politicians themselves to Congress (P27 billion), the Office of the President (P10.1 billion), and the Office of the Vice President (P0.8 billion).
The coalition also reviews line items for their practical application. For instance, it found that local governments with existing rural health units receive the same allocations as those without.
Ultimately, the coalition’s success depends on the support it gets from Congress and government agencies. The Senate has given it steady support through access to data and regular meetings with senators and staff. The House has not. The coalition is often notified of meetings late, not told of schedule changes, or given little time to speak. This effectively locks citizens out. The House, and the nation, would benefit from independent citizen eyes in committee discussions.
The House could also pass the proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act, or the Blockchain the Budget Act. This widely supported proposal would use blockchain technology to make every step of the national budget process, including allocations, disbursements, and procurement, recordable, tamper-proof, and traceable. It creates a public portal where citizens can monitor how taxpayer money is spent, and imposes administrative and criminal penalties on officials or agencies that fail to submit proper documents or submit fraudulent information.
The Senate passed its version (Senate Bill No. 1506) on third and final reading by a 17-0 vote more than nine months ago. The House has yet to pass House Bill No. 6792. If the House is serious about fighting corruption and preventing another flood-control scandal, it should pass this bill immediately.
ransparency already works. The DPWH, with the coalition, created a portal listing 11,372 projects worth P445 billion, down to project-level details. Citizen-volunteers can analyze project pricing and monitor progress, which helps DPWH spot deficient or delayed projects and take remedial action. With DPWH’s annual infrastructure budget of about P1.5 trillion, this is a game changer, and more agencies should follow.
Congratulations to BetterGov.PH. May their tribe increase.
GUILLERMO M. LUZ
Chairman, Liveable Cities Philippines
Chair of the advisory board of the Rizalino S. Navarro Center for Competitiveness
