CLARENCE PEN: QR Code Safety Nets to Account Projects

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya recently ordered the Management Information Technology and Communication System or MITCS that all government projects will have a QR code, so all information and data of the projects are specified and detailed, such as the time and duration of the projects, like when they were started and when they were completed, the total cost of the projects, and, above all, the names of the contractors and other related and important information to establish transparency and accountability, as what taxpayers now demand.

In my sobering thought, this is an effective mechanism to calls and battle cry of PBBM that all projects of the government shall be under watch and under comprehensive audit and review to ensure no fraudulent transactions are made by unscrupulous contractors.

This new policy that will be practiced now in Bacolod was not made and delivered by the national government ever since. But I believe this is now water under the bridge because corruption was done and perfected.

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In the recurring situation these days, the newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon will conduct physical inspections of flood control projects based on the data and reports from the Commission on Audit.

This could not have been the system if all flood control projects were tagged by QR Code in accessing needed information.

How I wish that the QR code system that was first started in our city will be adopted across the country.

This innovative idea of Mayor Greg was is a safety net to easily account projects because by a simple scan you can have detailed and concrete information. No need for you to conduct extensive research or have an actual inspection to apprise that taxpayers’ money was used and utilized prudently.* (CL)