The PDAF Watch was started in 2005. The first year was devoted to the development of the monitoring tools and templates and a first run of the monitoring of the PDAF/CA funded projects. The second year will be devoted to the refinement of the monitoring tools and another monitoring of PDAF/CA projects or other projects funded by the government.

The PDAF Watch also involves the training of and support for volunteer monitors in the different congressional districts of the country, and the collation, analysis and dissemination of their monitoring reports.

Objectives of the PDAF Watch Project

Corruption and inefficiency in public service delivery have long been identified as among the major stumbling blocks to our nation’s development. The Office of the Ombudsman estimates that the government lost $48 billion to corruption from 1977-1997. This amount exceeds the country’s foreign debt of about $40 billion. These losses are just part of the damage, however, as corruption and inefficiency also lead to reduced investments, worsening poverty, tainted political credibility, dangers to public safety and weakening of public and social institutions.

As a response, CODE-NGO is implementing the project entitled “PDAF Watch: A Civil Society Monitoring System”. The project aims to monitor the “pork barrel” allocations of the Senate and House of Representatives. Now labeled as the “Priority Development Assistance Fund” (PDAF) and the Congressional Allocation (CA) in the public works budget, these funds have become a national symbol for corruption in the country. In 1998, former DBM Secretary Salvador Enriquez estimated that up to 45% of “pork barrel” funds went to “commissions”.

CODE-NGO is a member of the Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) which was launched last September 2004 in response to the pervasive corruption in our country. The coalition is composed of major networks in the business, church, civic and NGO sectors. The CAC seeks to implement and support anti-corruption projects, particularly in the areas of public service delivery and procurement. Each CAC member network has committed itself to lead one major monitoring initiative and CODE-NGO has committed to monitor the PDAF and CA projects.

Last February 25, 2005 during the 19th EDSA celebration, CODE-NGO, thru its Chairperson Ms. Rory Tolentino, signed a Memorandum of Commitment and Support with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to monitor PDAF/CA funded projects. Last May 17, 2005, CODE-NGO signed a covenant with the Ombudsman for the European Union-Office of the Ombudsman (EU-OMB) Project which aims to pursue integrity development reforms in 15 government agencies.

While CODE-NGO is initially focusing on monitoring the PDAF/CA projects, it intends to make public service delivery monitoring a continuing initiative over the next years.