Ched Rick Gatchalian

Fr. Tito Caluag, Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. ABS-CBN News/FILE

Article (news)

Church group, DPWH, M4GG and private sector link hands to safeguard public funds

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771578092951photo-collage.png (27).png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Fr. Tito Caluag, Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. ABS-CBN News/FILE </div>MANILA — In a historic move, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), Caritas Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will coordinate together to monitor public projects and safeguard national resources.To formalize a &quot;sacred trust&quot;, these influential groups and networks will sign the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the revised Memorandum of Cooperation on Monday, February 23, for their united efforts that operationalizes citizen and diocesan participation to curb corruption.Caritas Philippines, as the social arm of the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), will help with its wide grassroots networks in the country to provide moral and physical oversight — while the DPWH will cooperate in opening government infrastructure projects to &quot;radical transparency&quot;, the M4GG will empower dioceses participation, and the PCCI will represent private sector involvement.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/new-cbcp-leader-warns-of-systemic-corruption-urges-dialogue-with-the-government-1827">New CBCP leader warns of ‘systemic’ corruption, urges dialogue with the government</a></div>&quot;The signing of this IRR is the formalization of a sacred trust. By integrating our diocesan network with technical civil groups’ expertise, we are operationalizing a mechanism that leaves  little room for anomaly. It might not be immediately perfect but it is indeed a powerful beginning,&quot; said Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag, executive director of Caritas Philippines.&quot;We are ensuring that the &#x27;People’s Power Movement is not just a sentiment, but a structured, nationwide safeguard for our nation&#x27;s resources,” he added.In a release, the groups said they want to work together in combatting sources of corruption rather than just addressing its damage.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/16/-we-need-whistleblowers-mayors-for-good-governance-opens-anti-corruption-hotline-and-portal-1411">&#x27;We need whistleblowers&#x27;: Mayors for Good Governance opens anti-corruption hotline and portal</a></div>&quot;This is our choice. This is our power. This is the People’s Power,&quot; the statement read.Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon meanwhile said transparency is &quot;the best disinfectant&quot;.&quot;President Marcos has been very clear: he is one with the Filipino people in ensuring that every single peso of our national budget goes exactly where it belongs—into projects that are truly needed by our countrymen,&quot; he stressed.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/10/flood-control-scandal-harms-ph-business-reputation-biz-group-1911">Flood control scandal harms PH reputation among business community, foreign countries: PCCI</a></div>He added that this partnership will change DPWH&#x27;s culture of reactive auditing to proactive preventing.&quot;When the public is part of the process from day one, corruption simply has no place to hide,&quot; Dizon noted.Since the flood control scandal became a hot issue among Filipinos, Caritas Philippines, M4GG and PCCI have been vocal against corruption; while, DPWH, for its part, pledged sweeping reforms in the agency to curb corruption.The M4GG opened earlier an anti-corruption hotline and online portal where citizens can submit reports about anomalous infrastructure projects, substandard works, and overpriced projects.Caritas Philippines is active in calling out &quot;injustices&quot; manifested to the public through poverty, corruption, and hunger.Additionally, PCCI also warned the government that alleged corruption in flood control projects may affect investor confidence and raise fear among neighboring countries.

To formalize a "sacred trust", influential groups and networks will sign the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the revised Memorandum of Cooperation on Monday, February 23, for their united efforts that operationalizes citizen and diocesan participation to curb corruption.

To formalize a "sacred trust", influential groups and networks will sign the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and the revised Memorandum of Cooperation on Monday, February 23, for their united efforts that operationalizes citizen and diocesan participation to curb corruption.

'People's Power Movement': Church group, DPWH, M4GG and private sector link hands to safeguard public funds, projects

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'People's Power Movement': Church group, DPWH, M4GG and private sector link hands to safeguard public funds, projects

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 20, 2026 05:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Corruption

Flood control

Infrastructure projects

Public funds

IRR

Cooperation

Caritas Philippines

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

M4GG

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