While he welcomed the launch of SumbongSaPangulo.ph website, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto pressed for greater transparency on the details surrounding the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects.
In a statement on Sunday evening, August 24, Sotto said the information currently available is already a “good start,” but stressed that the data is insufficient to fully judge the quality or completeness of the projects.
“This is already a big step since LGUs usually have very limited information on DPWH projects, especially when they’re implemented by UPMO,” Sotto said.
Sotto noted that the portal has finally provided the city with a near-complete list of DPWH flood control projects, including project titles, costs, completion dates, and locations.
He added that some projects are small-scale drainage works, while others are major undertakings handled by different implementing offices such as district engineering offices and the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO).
But to properly assess the projects, Sotto said his office will request access to critical technical documents such as the Program of Works (POW) and Bill of Quantities (BOQ).
“It is only through the POW and BOQ that we can see the exact details of a project. For example: how many meters should the project cover? Were the steel bars of the correct size? What kind of materials were required?” he explained.
The mayor added that other documents like the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) and bidding papers might also be necessary for a thorough review.
He also flagged that the website data does not clearly indicate which implementing office is in charge of each project, a gap that needs to be addressed for better monitoring.
Sotto said Pasig City is preparing a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request to obtain the missing documents from DPWH.
“This weekend, after initial research, we are drafting an FOI request to secure the above-mentioned documents. We will formalize this request to the DPWH this week,” he noted.
Once obtained, Sotto said the city government will use the documents to support the national government’s investigations while also engaging civil society groups in long-term project monitoring. He revealed that he had already met with one organization to begin discussions on how communities can take part in the oversight process.
“This is a good start, but we need more information,” Sotto said, vowing to keep residents updated as Pasig formalizes its request and continues its push for greater accountability in flood control spending.
