CUT THE CUTS. BUILD WITH INTEGRITY.
(If the President is serious about cleaning up corruption in infrastructure)
By Rob Rances
MY CHALLENGE TO THE PRESIDENT
I’ll say this upfront: Kung seryoso si PBBM sa paglilinis ng korapsyon, lalo na sa infrastructure, we don’t need reinvented promises. We just need to copy what already works.
Other countries have done it—Singapore, Ukraine, Brazil—and they’ve cut billions in political grease money by doing one thing: removing politicians from the game.
The ugly truth?
“Kung walang grease money, walang project.”
Politicians demand their “cut” first, and by the time the money trickles down, bulok na ang natitirang budget. Kahit gaano kagaling ang contractor, ninakaw na ang pondo bago pa magsimula.
And, come on, let’s be honest—releasing lists of contractors is just optics. The cancer isn’t the builders. The cancer is the politicians bleeding the nation dry.
5-POINT ANTI-CORRUPTION REFORM PROPOSAL
(Based on the world’s best anti-corruption models)
- TOTAL POLITICAL BAN ON PUBLIC PROJECT PROCUREMENT
- No Congressman, No Mayor, No Governor.
Pass a law prohibiting any elected official from directly or indirectly influencing the selection of contractors, suppliers, or project budgets. - Independent Procurement Authorityz
Establish a National Public Procurement Authority staffed by career professionals, similar to Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA)—ensuring that projects are awarded solely on merit, technical quality, and cost-effectiveness.
- DIGITAL, TRACEABLE, AND PUBLIC CONTRACTING SYSTEM
- Full Transparency.
Launch a ProZorro-style digital platform (modeled after Ukraine’s anti-corruption system) where all bids, project costs, and payment milestones are viewable by the public in real-time. - Audit Trail by Design.
Every peso—from NEP allocation to contractor payment—must be digitally traceable, leaving no room for “under-the-table” deals.
- WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION & REWARDS FOR CONTRACTORS
- Safe Reporting Mechanism.
Create a confidential hotline and online portal for contractors to report political kickbacks or extortion attempts. - Legal Immunity & Incentives.
Inspired by the U.S. False Claims Act, whistleblowers who expose corrupt politicians should be immune from retaliation and receive up to 10% of recovered funds.
- AUTOMATIC BLACKLIST & LIFETIME BAN FOR CROOKED OFFICIALS
- Criminalize Political Cuts.
Any politician proven to have demanded a cut from a contractor will face perpetual disqualification from public office, asset forfeiture, and graft charges. - Conflict-of-Interest Rules.
Immediate blacklisting of contractors tied to politicians, their families, or dummy corporations.
- CITIZEN & MEDIA WATCHDOG DASHBOARD
- Community Oversigh.
Implement a Public Project Tracker, where project details (cost, timeline, contractor name, fund source) are accessible online. Saan napunta ang pondo? Sino ang contractor? Kailan matatapos? Isang click lang, dapat makita ng bayan. - People-Powered Audits.
Encourage citizen groups, NGOs, and investigative journalists to monitor public works and report red flags—similar to Brazil’s Operation Car Wash model, which worked because of public vigilance.
THE CALL TO CONSCIENCE
I often hear politicians saying “Walang pera ang bayan”—pero sila mismo ang sumisipsip ng pondo sa bawat proyekto.
Kung tunay na seryoso si PBBM, cut the cuts first before you talk about reform.
You can’t fix public works by shaming contractors if the real thieves are wearing barong.
•••
Disclaimer: This post is an opinion piece based on global best practices in anti-corruption and procurement reforms. It does not accuse any specific individual but calls out systemic flaws that hurt public trust and national development. All references are drawn from international anti-corruption models and public governance frameworks.
If this truth hurts, it’s only because the system is broken—and it’s time to fix it.
Pinoy Edmonton News 