ABSTRACT
This study assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Transparency Portal as a tool for promoting transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects in Region VI (Western Visayas). Using a descriptive-survey research design, data were collected from 100 portal users through a structured questionnaire measuring perceived effectiveness and efficiency. Findings revealed that the DPWH Transparency Portal was generally perceived to have a high level of effectiveness and efficiency. Despite this positive assessment, results also showed that most users access the portal only rarely, suggesting a gap between availability and actual utilization. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the perceived effectiveness and efficiency of the portal when respondents were grouped according to sociodemographic variables. The results suggest that higher efficiency is associated with higher perceived effectiveness of the portal.
Keywords: DPWH Transparency Portal, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Policy Development
INTRODUCTION
Public trust in government is strongly influenced by how transparent and accountable public institutions are, particularly those entrusted with managing significant public funds.
In the Philippine context, infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and flood control systems have a direct impact on the everyday lives of citizens. Because these projects are publicly funded and highly visible, people naturally expect government agencies to be open about how they are planned, financed, and implemented.
Among the agencies responsible for this mandate is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which plays a major role in national and local infrastructure development. Due to the magnitude of its responsibilities and budget allocations, the DPWH has consistently been subject to public interest and scrutiny. In response to increasing calls for openness and in support of broader government transparency initiatives, the agency introduced the DPWH Transparency Portal. This online platform was intended to provide the public with access to information on infrastructure projects, procurement activities, and the utilization of public funds.
The establishment of the Transparency Portal reflects the government’s effort to make public information more accessible not only to oversight bodies, researchers, and policymakers, but also to ordinary citizens. Through this platform, the public is expected to gain a clearer understanding of how government resources are being used in their respective communities. Ideally, such access to information can help narrow information gaps, encourage informed civic participation, and reinforce accountability by allowing stakeholders to monitor project implementation and government spending more closely.
Despite these intended benefits, the presence of an online transparency platform does not automatically guarantee actual transparency. In practice, many users may still encounter difficulties when trying to access or interpret government information. Challenges such as a complicated interface, poorly organized data, outdated or incomplete project details, and limited public awareness of the platform may reduce its usefulness. When information is difficult to locate or understand, users may become discouraged from engaging with the portal, thereby weakening its intended purpose.
In addition, a transparency portal must not only provide information, but must also do so in a manner that is efficient, understandable, and user-centered. If users are required to spend too much time navigating the system or making sense of technical content, the platform may fall short of serving as an effective transparency mechanism.
For this reason, it is important to examine how the DPWH Transparency Portal performs from the perspective of its users, particularly in terms of whether it effectively and efficiently delivers the information it is intended to provide.
Given these concerns, there is a clear need to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the DPWH Transparency Portal in actual use. Examining user experiences, identifying the challenges they encounter, and determining areas for improvement are essential in evaluating whether the portal truly fulfills its purpose. More importantly, such an assessment can provide valuable insights into how the portal may better contribute to transparency, accountability, and public trust in the DPWH.
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