Civil society groups will closely monitor at least 23 government projects to ensure transparency in procurement and to prevent corruption, a Cabinet official yesterday said.
In a chance interview in Malacañang, Budget Secretary Rolando G. Andaya, Jr. said the projects were chosen by non-government organizations that are part of the Procurement Transparency Group, formed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last year to oversee bidding processes.
Mr. Andaya said this showed that the administration was committed to eradicating graft and promoting good governance.
“It would not look good if the government chooses the projects they will monitor … We gave them a list of the projects in the pipeline and they chose from it,” Mr. Andaya said.
The Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) and the Makati Business Club (MBC), two of the groups represented in the transparency body, confirmed this but said the government must do more to boost public participation in guarding against irregularities.
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