“The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them honest. No one else can.” John W. Gardner, US Secretary of Health and Education, 1965-68
Subscribe to Updates
Related Sites
Prof. Boncodin, in one of the forums she had appeared in to help people understand the the national budget and what people could do to protect it from corruption and wastage.
Join our campaign to access and publish all Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of public and publicly-elected officials.
Click here to see how it went from being a corrupt to clean society
Don't rely on Wikipedia or your old schoolbooks: Click here to check your facts from NYU's global law program
Is your local public official or politician driving a Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR or sporting a Rolex watch? If you suspect their lifestyle is in excess of their salary, let us know here in confidence.
This project is supported by:
with technical support from:
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project and the Pera Natin ‘To! website are made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this website and the views expressed herein are solely the responsibility of the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project and the individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government or the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative.
Our first project, the highly regarded Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project aimed to root greater human rights awareness into society via the media. For two years from 2007 to 2009, we delivered specialized training on human rights issues; commissioned, published and disseminated stories and investigative reports; and organized events and outreach activities to promote understanding that better awareness and protection of human rights is the cornerstone of a free and fair society.
With funding support from the US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, PHRRP engaged with more than 500 journalists, organized 44 training workshops and public events throughout the country on media and human rights, and produced 142 investigation reports, videos, podcasts and blogs on human rights in the Philippines. No less than UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston praised this project as “terrific work” and the State Department featured it as one of its success stories. It was likewise nominated Best New Media in the 2009 One World Media Awards alongside BBC and the British Red Cross.
The same team is leading the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project, seeking to work alongside and through existing and new media to help improve society’s ability to monitor, mobilize and demand greater public transparency and accountability from the State.
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) helps support democratic development and the rule of law in regions of crisis and transition through professional and media development. IWPR establishes sustainable networks and institutions, develops skills and professionalism, provides extensive reliable reporting, and builds cross-cultural and regional dialogue and debate.
IWPR’s work includes building capacity and skills for and through local outlets by forging partnerships with local civil society organizations, as well developing new media solutions and networks. It is highly regarded for its work in governance and transparency, elections and reform, women, human rights and the rule of law. IWPR presently works on the ground in two dozen transitional states, building local capacity, establishing local institutions and supporting practical training and information programs. Its projects are distinguished by innovative use of technology and intensive, hands-on training approaches, and has special experience strengthening free media in challenging environments.
IWPR now exists as an international network for media development, with four not-for-profit divisions in Europe, the US and Africa, supporting training and capacity building programs for local journalism, with field programs in more than 20 transitional states. It is registered as a charity in the United Kingdom , a non-profit organization under Section 21 in South Africa, and is tax-exempted under Section 501 (c) (3) in the United States.
The Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD) was formed by a group of journalists and development workers in July 2001 as a facility for journalists working with communities, citizens, and institutions for social change.
It helps enhance the skills of community journalists through hands-on training, mentoring and learning exchange programs. The CCJD also provides a platform for discourse between the community media and citizens on developing enabling mechanisms for increased and meaningful participation in governance and civic life.
The CCJD is at the forefront of increasing popular understanding of peace, development, governance, environmental sustainability, human rights and social justice through public journalism approaches and initiatives. It has regional projects in Southeast Asia and is the Asia-Pacific office of the International News Safety Institute (INSI), a global coalition of media organizations dedicated to the safety and security of journalists and media staff.
The CCJD was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 11, 2001 as a non-stock, non-profit organization.
MindaNews or the Mindanao News and Information Cooperative Center (MNICC) is a cooperative of independent, professional journalists who believe and practice people empowerment through media. It believes that Mindanao is not all bad news and that the responsibility of its members as journalists and information providers is to ensure a mixed balance of reports beyond the usual fare published in national newspapers or aired on radio and television. Its mission is to professionally and responsibly cover Mindanao events, peoples and issues to inform, educate, inspire and influence communities.
It envisions being the leading provider of accurate, timely and comprehensive news information on Mindanao and its peoples, serving economically, politically and culturally empowered communities. MindaNews’ services include the MindaNews publications, a one-stop-shop for books; MindaPrints, the coop’s computer and printing services; MindaNews Video and Photo Bank; and training for media practitioners, journalists, students, communities, non-government organizations and cooperatives.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is a nationwide organization of journalists and media workers committed to securing the interests of the Filipino working press.
It binds journalists to a covenant to ethical conduct and commitment to public trust. It also seeks to promote and safeguard the economic interest and social well-being of the working press, upgrade professional skills, raise the standards of journalistic ethics, carry out welfare program for its members, and foster fraternal solidarity with all journalists everywhere.
The NUJP is active in campaigns against journalist killings, criminal libel and other forms of attack against press freedom. It also pushes for the people’s right to access to information through legislative action and education campaigns.
NUJP has extensive training programs for journalists, which includes modules conflict reporting, election reporting, sensitive HIV and AIDS reporting, human rights reporting, child sensitive reporting and crime reporting.
NUJP maintains a Safety Office in cooperation with the International Federation of Journalists to document cases of attacks against members of media, and provide safety training and assistance to journalists under threat. NUJP also has a scholarship program for children of slain journalists.
While the first of our two end-of project surveys has just been posted, the results coming in already make for some very interesting reading. This survey largely centers on which direction you think the fight for greater transparency and accountability is headed in the Philippines and what you think is currently present, necessary or missing in thinking, plans and action. READ MORE
The People’s Budget – It’s Up To us to Really Make It So
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Senate Bill 2186 or the People's Participation in Budget Deliberations Act is a very welcome move in the fight against corruption and graft and the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project was lucky enough to see it first a few weeks ago and be tapped for our own opinions on it. READ MORE
Truth Telling as We Remember the Lessons from EDSA
Monday, 21 February 2011
Former state auditor Heidi Mendoza’s message to the public at the Valentine’s Day forum where she was key speaker was very timely given we are just days away from marking the 25th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship and ushered in democracy. READ MORE
The Public Watch
Saturday, 19 February 2011
It is encouraging to see the Senate Conference Room on February 18 filled with students, nuns, socialites, activists, CSO workers and other concerned citizens who are all wanting to follow the continuing Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged corruption within the Armed Forces of the Philippines. READ MORE
General Heidi
Thursday, 03 February 2011
We have a true ‘soldier’ in the form of anti-corruption fighter Heidi Mendoza –we just need to encourage more people like her to step forward and join her army. READ MORE
In the National – Not Personal Interest
Wednesday, 02 February 2011
‘Basic fair play, decency, good manners and right conduct.’ These words appeared in a well-argued column yesterday by William M. Esposo, the self-styled Chair-wrecker from the Philippine Star. READ MORE
Poor Budgeting, Too Many Contingency, and Special Purpose Funds and ‘Savings’ – All A Recipe For Corruption
Tuesday, 01 February 2011
Without commenting on who is charging what about whom in the AFP right now, it is not difficult to see how pabaon (send-off money) scandals can so easily happen. Blue Ribbon Committee hearings and politicians talk incessantly about slush-funds - and they seem to feature in every high level case of alleged corruption: But as yet, we don’t seem to link the ubiquitous slush funds with the ubiquitous and hugely discretionary contingency and special purpose funds (and dare we say it again, the PDAF/Pork Barrel Allocations) which are written into national budgets and approved by legislative committees year after year.” READ MORE
Officials Ignoring DILG Orders to Stop Personalizing Public Projects
Friday, 21 January 2011
A public-spirited citizen from Samar has just sent us in a series of photos and a complaint that government officials there appear to be in clear breach of a circular from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) banning the use of “names or initials and/or images or pictures of government officials in billboards and signages of government programs and projects.” READ MORE
The Good and Bad News from TI’s 2010 Global Corruption Barometer
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
There is both good and bad news for the Philippines in the latest Global Perception Barometer Index released by Transparency International last week to mark International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9). READ MORE
SC Ruling Is No Surprise
Friday, 10 December 2010
Sadly the Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the Truth Commission comes as no surprise. We put ‘sadly’ not for the reasons that some might think – that many claim the Court to be biased against the Aquino government. It is ‘sad’ because it was perfectly clear back in May that any attempt to set up a commission which would only look at the alleged misdeeds of the Arroyo administration was a very poorly judged one. It suggested the move was much more about politics than it was about addressing the root of the problem of corruption in the Philippines. READ MORE
University Budget Cuts – Fact or Fiction and the Media’s Mission To Explain
29 November 2010
Opinion is critical and freedom of expression an inalienable (natural) right. Too is the right to information and often we assume they are the same thing. Yet information is essentially data and fact. Unfortunately, too much reporting the world over is poorly rooted in fact and too heavily in opinion and hearsay. READ MORE
Open Budget, Open Government
29 November 2010
Government officials, members of civil society organization workers, academic experts, business people and international development agencies met on Saturday November 20 in Pasig City to sign an agreement in a bid to make government budgets more open. READ MORE
Transparency in Government Contracts to Big Business and Consultancies
22 November 2010
“We are beginning to learn who works where, what departments spend and who are the big business recipients of taxpayers’ money,” journalists from the UK Guardian wrote last Friday in response to the latest release of financial details by the British Government. READ MORE
PPTRP holds 10th budget reporting training in Bohol June 30
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its 10th training on advanced transparency and anti-corruption reporting called “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on June 30 at the JJ’s Seafood Village in Tagbilaran City in Bohol. READ MORE
PPTRP holds 9th budget transparency reporting training in Kidapawan City June 6
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its 9th training on advanced and anti-corruption reporting dubbed as “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on June 6 at Boylyn Pension Plaza in Kidapawan City. The training was made possible with the financial assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the technical assistance of the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI). READ MORE
PPTRP holds 8th budget reporting training in Pampanga June 3
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its 8th training on advanced and anti-corruption reporting dubbed as “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on June 3 at the Social Action Center of Pampanga in San Fernando City, Pampanga. READ MORE
PPTRP-supported Local Transparency Groups Share Experiences in Reporting, Fighting Corruption
Three local transparency reporting groups which the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) supported and helped establish gathered on June 3 in Bohol to share experiences in building transparency and accountability in their respective communities. READ MORE
PPTRP holds 7th budget reporting training in Davao City May 27
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its seventh training on advanced transparency and anti-corruption reporting called “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on May 27 at the Ateneo De Davao in Davao City. READ MORE
PPTRP holds 6th budget transparency reporting in Dipolog City May 23
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its 6th training on advanced transparency and anti-corruption reporting called “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on May 23 at the Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City. READ MORE
PPTRP meets with editors and columnists May 18 to discuss media coverage of public corruption
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project met with editors and columnists of selected national and international media organizations May 18 in Manila to discuss current media behavior and thinking in relation to public corruption and transparency. READ MORE
Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, the former CEO of the Philippine Forest Corporation who later disclosed explosive information on the anomalous USD 329 million NBN-ZTE deal that nearly brought down the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, shared his views May 9 with the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project on continuing the fight against corruption and for genuine transparency under the new administration. READ MORE
PPTRP holds 5th budget reporting training in Ozamiz City April 26
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project held its fifth training on advanced transparency and anti-corruption reporting called “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on April 26 at the Naomi’s Botanical Gardens in Ozamiz City. READ MORE
PPTRP holds 4th training on budget reporting in CDO April 2
The Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP) held its fourth training on advanced transparency and anti-corruption reporting called “Numeracy for Journalists, Civil Society Organizations and Citizens” on April 2 in Cagayan de Oro City. READ MORE
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is a nationwide organization of journalists and media workers committed to securing the interests of the Filipino working press.
PPTRP holds 10th budget reporting training in Bohol June 30
PPTRP holds 9th budget transparency reporting training in Kidapawan City June 6
PPTRP-supported Local Transparency Groups Share Experiences in Reporting, Fighting Corruption
PPTRP holds 7th budget reporting training in Davao City May 27
PPTRP holds 6th budget transparency reporting in Dipolog City May 23
PPTRP meets with editors and columnists May 18 to discuss media coverage of public corruption
PPTRP meets NBN ZTE scam whistle blower Rodolfo Lozada May 9
PPTRP holds 5th budget reporting training in Ozamiz City April 26
PPTRP holds 4th training on budget reporting in CDO April 2
What's wrong with these photos (apart from the blocked out bits)? 
Bookmark Us
Google
Facebook
Twitter
Myspace
Linkedin
Yahoo
Digg
del.icio.us
Windows Live
Reddit
Blogger