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Local government

Reform-Minded Mayors Launch Hotline to Flag Ghost Infrastructure Projects

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A coalition of reform-minded city and municipal mayors has launched a hotline, called REPORT INFRA, to allow the public to flag ghost, substandard, or overpriced infrastructure projects. The hotline, rolled out on October 16, is a key initiative of the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), a group of local executives pushing for cleaner and more transparent local governments. The public can submit tips through a hotline (02) 8459-0143 or via online through bit.ly/reportinfraph and mayorsforgoodgovernance.ph/reportinfraph. The hotline aims to curb corruption in public works by providing a safe and accessible channel for citizens, government employees, contractors, and local stakeholders to share verified information or evidence of anomalous practices.

Key Takeaways:

  • The REPORT INFRA hotline is a key initiative of the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) to curb corruption in public works.
  • The hotline provides a safe and accessible channel for citizens, government employees, contractors, and local stakeholders to share verified information or evidence of anomalous practices.
  • Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, a convenor of the M4GG, said that the effort builds on growing frustration over how corruption has persisted despite repeated investigations and policy reforms.
  • The hotline aims to turn citizen vigilance into usable data, as stated by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, another member of the coalition.
  • Each submission will be reviewed by a technical and legal team working with M4GG, and verified reports will be endorsed to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
  • M4GG and ICI signed a memorandum of understanding in September that covers several areas of cooperation in hunting down corruption in infrastructure works.

Statistics:

  • The hotline is available through a phone number (02) 8459-0143 and online through bit.ly/reportinfraph and mayorsforgoodgovernance.ph/reportinfraph.
  • The hotline is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Since 2015, member-mayors of M4GG have been asked to comb through projects carried out by the DPWH in their areas.

Sources:

  • "Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG)" statement, October 16, 2022
  • Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto's statement, quoted by M4GG, October 16, 2022
  • Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong's statement, quoted by M4GG, October 16, 2022
  • Memorandum of Understanding between M4GG and ICI, September 2022
  • News article, "Reform-minded mayors launch hotline to flag ghost infrastructure projects", Manila, October 16, 2022

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