Tag: Government Transparency
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Budget Watchdogs Raise Alarm Over 2026 Budget, House Denies Pork Barrel Claims
Overview: Allegations of Pork Barrel Reach the 2026 National Budget A coalition of civil society organizations, led by the People’s Budget Coalition, has warned that the proposed 2026 national budget contains about P230 billion in pork barrel and patronage-based projects. The group argues that the House of Representatives’ Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee inserted billions into…
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Can a Website Make Government Better? The Bettergov.ph Experiment
Introduction: A bold idea in the Philippine civic tech scene The question “Can a website make government better?” might sound simplistic, but it sits at the heart of a growing movement in the Philippines. A group of volunteers, loosely branded as the Startup PH guys, unveiled Bettergov.ph—an online project aimed at offering a more transparent,…
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Can a Website Make Government Better? The CivicTech Push in the Philippines
Can a Website Make Government Better? In an era of growing public demand for accountability, a group of tech enthusiasts in the Philippines has turned a bold idea into a nationwide conversation. Bettergov.ph, a volunteer-driven project, launched with the audacious aim of offering a “better” version of the country’s gov.ph portal. The endeavor is not…
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Can a Website Make Government Better? A Look at Bettergov.ph and Civic Tech in the Philippines
Introduction: A Bold Idea from the Civic Tech community What happens when a group of developers and volunteers decides to rebuild one of the country’s most essential digital interfaces? In the Philippines, the project Bettergov.ph emerged from a mix of frustration with aging government portals and a desire for more transparent, citizen-friendly governance. A fundraiser…
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Suspected Abuse of Authority: Vaud Prosecutor Seeks Inquiry into Valérie Dittli
What happened In the canton of Vaud, a move that could have wide implications for governance, the cantonal Prosecutor General has asked the Grand Council’s office to open an inquiry into Valérie Dittli, a member of the Vaud state government. The case centers on accusations that the minister requested or endorsed changes to tax rulings…
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U.S. Defense Department Tightens Control Over Press Information
Pentagon’s New Press Rules Spark Outrage In a controversial move, the U.S. Department of Defense has implemented stringent new rules requiring accredited journalists to seek approval before publishing any information related to the Pentagon, whether classified or not. This decision has been labeled an “attack on independent journalism” by prominent reporter associations. The updated policy…
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Journalists Excluded from Prime Minister’s UN Flight
Introduction In a surprising move, the Prime Minister’s office has announced that journalists will not be allowed to accompany the Prime Minister on his official flight to the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for the end of September. This decision has raised eyebrows and concerns regarding transparency and media access. Reason for Exclusion The official…
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Official Flight Costs Revealed: Ciucă and Ciolacu
Introduction The Romanian government has recently made public the expenses related to the official flights of Prime Ministers Nicolae Ciucă and Marcel Ciolacu. This transparency comes after a period of scrutiny regarding public spending on official state activities. From December 2021 to February 2025, TAROM, Romania’s national airline, received nearly 4 million lei for 11…
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Bizarre Hearing of the Alleged NASA Chief: Insights and Implications
Introduction to the Bizarre Hearing The recent hearing involving the alleged NASA chief has sent shockwaves through both the scientific community and the general public. As the world watches, questions arise about the transparency of governmental operations related to space exploration. This article delves into the details of the hearing, its implications, and the broader…