Blockchain technology to curb corruption?

Last Sept. 30, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) entered into partnership with a private sector group that will pilot-test a blockchain technology designed to fight corruption in one of the most-graft prone agencies of the government.

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

In behalf of the DPWH, “acting” Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon launched the “Integrity Chain,” a digital platform meant to track and secure every peso and milestone in selected national infrastructure projects.

Dizon signed a memorandum of agreement with the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP) headed by its president Donald Patrick Lim to pilot-test initially all foreign-assisted projects (FAPs) under the DPWH. This important signing event did not merit much public attention, taking place while congressional investigations exposed multibillion-peso budgets of the DPWH lost to alleged “ghost” flood control projects.

“From the budget process to procurement, contract awards, implementation, monitoring and even payments to contractors, everyone should be watching now, everyone,” Dizon disclosed at the launch of the “Integrity Chain” held in Makati City. Two weeks later at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum, Lim reiterated the BCP will provide the government with a one-year free subscription to the “Integrity Chain,” initially being put up as the platform for the public monitoring of the FAPs being implemented by the DPWH.

According to Lim, this exclusive blockchain platform for the DPWH will be running as soon as the technical support, training and cybersecurity safeguards are completed within the year. Lim described this as a private sector-led initiative by the 200 or so member-players of the BCP. Lim stressed the effort is not just about calling for reform, but building “participative democracy” based on transparency of transactions and use of “trusted” technology.

“For the first time, the private sector isn’t just demanding integrity — we're delivering it,” Lim pointed out. “It’s privately funded. The private sector is the one funding it. The council is the one working with all the stakeholders to execute it,” Lim stressed.