Gov’t to publish state projects, winning bidders in national newspapers – Duterte

The government will buy ad spaces in major newspapers to publish the state’s projects with the respective bidders, President Duterte announced Monday night.

In his televised address Monday, the President sought the publication of government contracts, including those related to public works and highways, transportation and irrigation facilities, for the information of the public in the remainder of his term.

Duterte said he wanted to see the published list of government projects under negotiation, those with winning bidders, and those already completed.

“Gusto kong malaman sinong mga contractors nanalo. Marami ako sa lista – may listahan ako diyan sa mga demonyo na ‘yan. Malaman ko ngayon kung – malaman ng tao ‘yung estimated project tapos magkano ang winning bid, to whom it was awarded to, and for how much (I want to know who are the winning contractors. I have a list of those demons. The public will know the estimated project, the amount of the winning bid, to whom it was awarded to and for how much),” he said.

“Hindi maabot ‘yan siguro ng limang page. Magbili tayo. I-ano mo lang, i-merry-go-round mo lang sa mga ano. Today, it could be Manila Times, then it could be the Bulletin, and so forth and so on, mga Philippine Daily Star. Lahat sila. Basta malaman ng tao (It may not reach five pages. We will buy. You can apply a merry-go-round. Today, it could be Manila Times, then it could the Bulletin and so forth and so on, the Philippine Daily Star. All of them so the people will know),” he said.

Duterte said the public can track the progress of government projects once they are published in the newspapers.

“I would like to also to reiterate again, Bong – dalawang Bong here (Senator) Bong Go pati si (Executive Secretary) Bong Medialdea – iyong ano ko na kindly agree with some of the newspapers, the leading ones, for our space sa… Mga three pages ‘yan siguro (I would like to reiterate again Bong – there are two Bongs here – Senator Bong Go and Executive Secretary Bong Medialdea. Kindly agree with some of the newspapers, the leading ones, for our space. Maybe three pages),” he said.

Late last month, the President directed government agencies to make public their fund disbursement every 15 or 30 days in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Duterte said he wanted agencies to publish in newspapers how they spent the public funds on goods and services, including the names and addresses of their suppliers.

The President's latest directive is part of his campaign to curb corruption in the bureaucracy.