Quezon city: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has formalized a partnership with civil society groups, including Church-based organizations, to bolster the monitoring of infrastructure projects across the country amidst ongoing concerns about flood control.

According to Philippines News Agency, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, alongside leaders from Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) advocacy arm, Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), and Taongbayan's Action for Participatory, Accountable, and Transparent Governance (TAPAT), signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) at the Novotel Cubao in Quezon City.

The agreement outlines a collaborative approach where these groups will assist the department in reporting and validating its projects. Secretary Dizon emphasized the critical role every sector of society plays in overseeing DPWH projects.

"When I spoke to the President, the President did not tell me to defend DPWH and what's been going on there. The President told me to reform DPWH," Dizon stated. "And this is what we are doing now with various groups, such as our mayors, our CBCP, and other civil society organizations."

In addition to Dizon, the MOC was signed by Bishop Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong of M4GG, and Victorio Joseph Lorenzo of TAPAT.

Dizon also mentioned plans to broaden cooperation with other government agencies and the private sector, aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to enhance transparency and implement comprehensive reforms within the DPWH. "The most important reform that our President will leave behind is transparency. It all starts with transparency," added the DPWH chief.