SENATE President Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill reorganizing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to strengthen accountability in public infrastructure projects. Sotto said Senate Bill (SB) 1835 aims to rationalize the powers and functions of DPWH’s regional and district offices to achieve transparency and efficiency in public infrastructure governance. Under the measure, an infrastructure inspectorate team will “livestream” on official social media channels its inspection of public works projects for transparency. Sotto said public infrastructure plays a vital role in nation-building by generating employment and addressing essential needs such as safe roads, bridges, flood control systems and other critical public works. “As one of the departments receiving the largest budget allocations, Filipinos rightfully expect that every peso entrusted to the DPWH translates into safe, resilient and responsive infrastructure,” he said. The DPWH organization must be reviewed to identify where the gaps are and where opportunities for corruption may lie, Sotto said. SB 1835 was one of the legislative measures recommended arising from the results of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on ghost flood control projects wherein some lawmakers, in collusion with DPWH personnel, allegedly pocketed some funds for flood mitigation. “This measure is about restoring public trust by rationalizing functions, strengthening monitoring mechanisms and institutionalizing transparency to ensure that the people’s taxes are spent efficiently, honestly and for the public good,” Sotto said. The bill calls for a close look at the DPWH’s mandate, powers, organizational structure and operational framework, including the functions of its undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. The department proper will be reorganized according to the key infrastructure projects under its mandate to decentralize project preparation and implementation, and reduce opportunities for irregularities and delays. An Infrastructure Maintenance Services Unit will be responsible for inspecting, monitoring and evaluating completed projects and maintaining a centralized and publicly accessible infrastructure database to enhance transparency and allow citizens to track DPWH projects. Regional offices will assume key functions previously handled at the district level, including project identification and bidding processes. District offices will focus on supervision, monitoring and recommendatory functions to strengthen oversight on the ground.