Documentation of progress using geotagged photographs is now required in all stages of implementation of infrastructure projects in the country.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar has issued an order requiring the geotagging of project implementation photos “to improve efficiency in planning, budgeting, project monitoring, and contract management processes.”
"In line with the continued implementation of the department’s project and contract management application (PCMA), geotagged monthly progress and completion for all road and or bridge civil works project components are hereby required from Implementing Offices, effective immediately," Villar said.
Under Department Order No. 85, geotagging is used to show the location of all civil works projects during the four project stages – before project implementation, upon mobilization, monthly progress, and completion.
Villar said “responsible persons are identified and tasked” to ensure that each project stage is documented in photographs.
The designated regional office planning coordinator and designated regional project manager shall be responsible for the before project implementation photos, to be captured during budget preparation while the designated project engineer (PE) will handle the mobilization and monthly progress stages.
Mobilization photos shall ensure the project is in the same location as funded and monthly progress photos shall serve as visual evidence of accomplishments during the month covered.
Moreover, the implementing office’s construction division shall take responsibility for the completion of photographs, which shall be captured during final inspection and uploaded to the Geographic Information System (GIS) once the status of the project component is “completed” in the PCMA.
The department’s Planning Service, Bureau of Construction, Information Management Service, and implementing office head and project engineer are also tasked to assure that the geotagging application works efficiently.
“Geotagged mobilization, monthly progress, and completion photos of all regular infrastructure civil works project components regardless of cost, infrastructure type, or fund source should be carried out during the month of the activity specified,” the department said.