The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) are advancing a technology-driven monitoring system to strengthen accountability in government projects, amid heightened public scrutiny following corruption scandals in infrastructure spending.
Through the Project DIME (Digital Imaging for Monitoring and Evaluation), both agencies are deploying satellite imagery, drones, and LiDAR technology to verify whether government projects are implemented as planned, especially in remote or conflict-affected areas where physical inspections are limited.
The initiative, first launched under a 2017 memorandum of agreement, is intended to replace paper-based reporting with science-based validation, giving policymakers more reliable data to decide whether projects should proceed, be adjusted, or suspended.
According to the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), the program “reinforces the principle of accountability through science,” ensuring that “every peso of public funds must be properly accounted for and must deliver real benefits to citizens.”
Two pilot projects under DIME showcased its potential:
- The Monitoring and Assessment of Planting Activities (MAPA2) project, led by UP Diliman’s Engr. Czar Jakiri S. Sarmiento, supported the National Greening Program and assessed damage from the Marawi siege, identifying more than 3,200 damaged buildings worth about ₱4.01 billion.
- The Remote Assessment for Irrigation Networks (RAIN) project, led by UP Diliman’s Dr. Mark Edwin A. Tupas, evaluated the condition of irrigation systems that receive billions in annual government investment.
Officials said Project DIME has already influenced governance by linking scientific evidence with budgetary accountability.
The rollout comes as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) faces investigations into alleged corruption in flood control projects, where ghost and substandard works amounting to hundreds of billions of pesos have been flagged by state auditors. Whistleblowers have accused some lawmakers and contractors of collusion through padded budgets, “dummy” firms, and kickback arrangements.
Reform advocates say programs like DIME could serve as deterrents to such practices by providing independent, science-based monitoring of big-ticket projects, thereby making it harder for ghost or substandard infrastructure to go unnoticed.
