Bantay.ph, launched in January 2013, is a youth-based good governance movement. Our primary service is to provide educational and volunteer opportunities to citizens who want to espouse good governance especially in frontline government transactions. We use a mix of tech-based strategies, school-based programs, citizen monitoring, and social media engagement to promote good governance. We are a member of the Coalition Against Corruption and supported by the Makati Business Club. In Dec. 2013, we received a year-long grant from LifeBank Foundation, one of the largest microfinance institutions in the Philippines, to do a pilot project with their members, which will aim to improve their access to public services. Our Mission: 1. To uplift the standard of frontline government service 2. To increase government accountability through raising citizen awareness and citizen monitoring Our Vision: An informed citizenry that demands good governance in the area of frontline government service Our work is divided into two areas: 1. Education and Advocacy: I(ntegrity)-School is a mobile school project that aims to educate about: a.) Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA)-a law enacted in 2007 to reduce bureaucracy in government transactions b.) How to get frontline government services without paying a bribe/The proper government transaction procedures for different agencies c.) Themes of good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability 2. Citizen Monitoring We send student volunteers from different universities (Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance/UP-NCPAG) to monitor government services based on ARTA standards: i.e. physical set-up, basic facilities, etc. After the monitoring, recommendations are sent to agencies; some have already acted on volunteers’ advice, and the improvements are verified through unannounced follow-up visits.
