DPWH unveils project monitoring system

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday rolled out a new system which will monitor accomplishments of the agency in real-time.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the Project and Contract Management Procedures and Application (PCMA) will help increase transparency in the agency.

“We have rolled out the use of the PCMA. The new feature would enable the adding of geographic identification data to photos, videos, and other posts which allows other content from the same geographic location to be found,” Villar said.

According to Villar, full implementation of the PCMA will be on 2017.

It is expected to detect any ghost project real-time, as they are posted in the system.

“The right to information does not end in the provision of data. There is a need to ensure that the public has access to quality information,” he added.

He said the use of geo-tagging will provide a more accurate measurement of project accomplishments.

It will determine whether certain infrastructures have been duplicated or if there are any instances of infrastructure overlap in the country.

According to DPWH, the PCMA is expected to improve transparency and accountability of physical and financial outcomes through use of online geographic based status reporting and geotagged photos required for Contractor Claims processing.

“Safeguards will be put in place to ensure complete elimination of ghost projects,” Villar stressed.