The Urgent Need for Technological Transparency in Curbing Corruption
Now, discussions are turning to future technologies—but the pressing question remains: are the institutions and individuals involved prepared to confront the blunt reality that these tools reveal?
The recent spate of corruption scandals in the Philippines has highlighted the urgent need for technological solutions that can enforce transparency and accountability. In a country where billions of pesos have disappeared into “ghost projects” and mismanaged funds, the limitations of traditional oversight mechanisms are glaringly obvious. Citizens are increasingly asking: how could such vast sums, funded by taxpayers, slip through the cracks so easily? How could systemic inefficiencies, negligence, or deliberate malfeasance go unchecked despite audits, reports, and supposedly strict regulations?
One promising avenue lies in the adoption of blockchain technology. At its core, blockchain offers permanent, transparent, and verifiable records of transactions. Once a record is entered, it cannot be altered or erased without leaving a trace. This immutability, combined with decentralization, creates a system where corruption is not only harder to conceal but also easier to trace and audit. Applied to government procurement, land registries, supply chains, and other sectors prone to fraud, blockchain could dramatically reduce opportunities for embezzlement, bribery, or counterfeiting. By ensuring that records are automatically verifiable and publicly auditable, the technology fosters both accountability and trust.
For Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, adopting future technologies such as blockchain could play a crucial role in tracking government projects and ensuring transparency and accountability—especially given the magnitude of the challenge he inherited.
“It’s really unbelievable to me how corrupt this institution has become,” Dizon said. “The decay stems from a total lack of transparency. DPWH is a very decentralized organization; 300 district offices, 20,000 to 25,000 projects every year and no monitoring. Nobody has eyes on the process. They are their own little kingdoms, and they are the kings. But hopefully with this [blockchain], that will change.”
“Simply put, blockchain provides a lot of eyes on something. There are multiple eyes, and they don’t know each other. They can’t collude,” the Secretary added.
From his words, it is clear that adopting future technologies is part of a broader effort to reform institutions riddled with corruption such as the DPWH. “This is what the whole government needs, not just DPWH,” Dizon said. “From the budget process to procurement, to awarding contracts, to project implementation and payment; everyone should be watching.”
“It’s really unbelievable to me how corrupt this institution has become,” Dizon said. “The decay stems from a total lack of transparency. DPWH is a very decentralized organization; 300 district offices, 20,000 to 25,000 projects every year and no monitoring. Nobody has eyes on the process. They are their own little kingdoms, and they are the kings. But hopefully with this [blockchain], that will change.”
“Simply put, blockchain provides a lot of eyes on something. There are multiple eyes, and they don’t know each other. They can’t collude,” the Secretary added.
From his words, it is clear that adopting future technologies is part of a broader effort to reform institutions riddled with corruption such as the DPWH. “This is what the whole government needs, not just DPWH,” Dizon said. “From the budget process to procurement, to awarding contracts, to project implementation and payment; everyone should be watching.”
Yet, technology alone is not a cure-all. Corrupt actors will inevitably seek new loopholes, and without proper governance, oversight, and political will, even the most sophisticated system can be undermined. Resistance is common, often disguised as skepticism about costs, feasibility, or the disruption of existing processes. History provides clear examples: Project NOAH, the government’s disaster-monitoring and early-warning initiative, was repeatedly underfunded and, at one point, cut despite its demonstrable value in predicting calamities and saving lives. If the state hesitates to invest in life-saving technologies, one can hardly expect wholehearted adoption of systems that could expose corruption.
The stakes are high. Beyond financial losses, unchecked corruption erodes public trust, weakens institutions, and compromises development. Every peso siphoned away from public projects represents roads unbuilt, hospitals under-equipped, and citizens deprived of essential services. Future technologies like blockchain offer a pathway to restore credibility, but their adoption requires more than infrastructure—it demands courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to transparency from all levels of government.
As the Philippines grapples with the fallout from DPWH ghost projects and other scandals, the nation faces a critical decision. Will it embrace future technologies fully, recognizing the uncomfortable truths they reveal, or will these innovations be treated half-heartedly, diluted by bureaucracy and cost concerns, leaving the door open for yet another cycle of inefficiency and fraud?
The answer will define not just the fight against corruption, but the very nature of governance and public trust in the years to come.