Last 11 March 2014, the World Bank Manila Office introduced the civil society community to the use of geotagging as a project visualization tool. We learned about the efficient, cost-effective tool for project management and contract implementation monitoring using inexpensive smartphones and free downloadable applications. Its successful use in the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Natural Resources (DENR) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) projects has also provided good models to follow. As a concrete next step to the initial meeting, we agreed to conduct a series of skills training on the use of geotagging for civil society’s third-party monitoring of government projects. Both the World Bank and the Asian Development have expressed interest in supporting this partnership
The use of geotagging would be very useful and strategic to civil society, and particularly to ordinary citizen of this country, in view of the announced government’s Open Data initiative which would allow us to closely monitor the use of public funds in whatever location in the country.
To kick off the training, we would like to invite everyone to the “Geotagging 101” training on 20 June 2014, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Ateneo School of Government, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. The training will be conducted by Mr. Noel Sta. Ines of World Bank Manila and experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The introductory module will already involve hands-on application of geotagging process, including attaching location information (longitude and latitude), pictures, videos and other media. In this regard, all participants are requested to bring their own laptop and Android smartphone.
Please confirm your or your representative’s attendance to rchoco@ansa-eap.net. For queries, please contact us at telephone 426-0185 or email rchoco@ansa-eap.net.