Photo credit: DPWH

What if every government infrastructure project — from bidding to completion — could be monitored in real time?

That’s exactly what the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is aiming for with the rollout of its new “Integrity Chain,” a blockchain-powered system designed to promote transparency and accountability.

Launched Tuesday, the Integrity Chain will provide traceable, auditable, and accessible project records to accredited validators from the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP). In short, it adds another layer of oversight — powered by digital technology.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the initiative is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen digitalization and increase private sector participation in verifying and monitoring government projects.

“This is a major step in ensuring that what we’ve seen in the past doesn’t happen again. And this is what the President keeps on repeating. Not only do we need to hold people to account, not only do we need to get the people’s money back, but even more important is we make sure that this [flood control scandal] does not happen again,” Dizon stressed.

Through the Integrity Chain, accredited validators will gain access to a real-time dashboard that allows decentralized and secure monitoring of infrastructure projects — from planning and bidding to awarding and final completion.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and BYC Ventures.

For the DPWH, the message is clear: technology will now play a bigger role in making sure public funds are properly used — and that past controversies won’t be repeated.

The Integrity Chain Portal can be accessed at: https://www.integritychainph.org/