MANILA – The Marcos administration’s push for digital governance is playing a pivotal role in promoting transparency and accountability in government, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
In a column published in the Philippine Star, Bersamin credited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “two-pronged approach” to streamlining and digitalizing bureaucratic processes as a means to curb corruption and enhance public disclosure.
“This strategy recognizes a fundamental truth: corruption thrives in opacity, while transparency fosters integrity,” Bersamin said.
He emphasized that the administration’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas” is closely tied to how digital transformation empowers citizens, strengthens transparency, and promotes accountability in public institutions.
Despite these advancements, Bersamin reiterated Marcos’ earlier statement that technology alone is not enough to eradicate corruption. He stressed the importance of cultivating a culture rooted in Filipino values such as honesty, compassion, camaraderie, and solidarity to ensure meaningful change.
Bersamin also underscored the significance of continued international cooperation in driving reform. He pointed to the country’s collaboration with the United Nations, particularly the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as instrumental in supporting governance reforms.
He further noted that the Philippines’ active engagement in the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) remains critical to fostering institutions that earn and maintain public trust.
“Collaborating with international partners, such as the United Nations, is essential. Multilateralism helps create platforms for countries to learn from each other, exchange best practices while adapting solutions and global standards to local contexts,” he said.
Among the key outcomes of these efforts, Bersamin cited the enactment of the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) in 2024. Developed in partnership with the UNODC, the law strengthens the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and introduces a new e-Marketplace modeled after commercial e-commerce platforms.
One notable provision of the NGPA, according to Bersamin, is the requirement for all participants in government bidding—whether suppliers, contractors, or consultants—to disclose their ultimate beneficial owners. He described this as a significant step toward curbing bid collusion and ensuring transparency in public procurement.
“This groundbreaking provision directly addresses bid collusion, where different companies controlled by the same individual bid against each other for the same contract,” he noted.
Bersamin added that such disclosure requirements are intended to expose potential conflicts of interest and foster a fairer, more competitive bidding environment.
“For citizens, this means greater assurance that public funds aren’t being diverted through shadow companies or manipulated bidding. For honest businesses, it creates a more level playing field where merit rather than connections determines who wins government contracts,” he said.
He concluded by citing the Philippines’ growing recognition in the field of digital governance, noting that the country now ranks sixth among 18 nations in the Asia Pacific Digital Nations Index and leads in Southeast Asia.
