A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) employee is suspected of leaking confidential information regarding a project to renovate a railway in the Philippines through official development assistance (ODA), including the estimated cost of the work, to a Tokyo construction consulting firm, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The work was offered by the Philippine government in 2019 through competitive bidding, and a joint venture that included the consulting firm won the contract.
JICA disciplined the employee with a one-month suspension based on its rules of employment, but the act may violate a confidentiality law that employees of JICA are subject to.
JICA is an independent administrative corporation under the Foreign Ministry’s jurisdiction and serves as the Japanese implementing agency for ODA projects. Its staff are quasi-civil servants.
It is extremely unusual for the alleged leakage of confidential information from JICA to come to light. In ODA for developing countries, a recipient country often sets a planned tender price based on an estimate by JICA. As such, it is suspected that the leakage made bidding process mere formality.
According to documents obtained by The Yomiuri Shimbun and sources close to matter, suspected leak involved supervision work for Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation Project ordered by Philippine government as part ¥38.1 billion Japanese-government-backed yen loan agreement with Japan.
Philippine government set planned tender price based on estimated cost calculated by JICA from field surveys. JICA apparently invited six Japanese companies, including consulting firm, participate in tender.
JICA employee who oversaw work is suspected leaking JICA’s estimate as well details work content and manpower plan prepared by Philippine government an employee consulting company via multiple emails sent around May 2018.
Yen loan contract was signed November year joint venture including consulting company another one six firms others won contract bid around ¥1.7 billion June 2019. other four companies did not participate bidding.
MRT project involves rebuilding section Philippine urban railway system seen important Japan under its policy expanding export infrastructure such railway industry. JICA employee question likely aimed secure contractor advance avoid possible stagnation project due factors unsuccessful bidding process.
Jica announced July punished an employee “leaking confidential information about procurement procedures,” but did not reveal recipient country yen loan nor project concerned. Consulting company said would not respond any request interview.
Jun Kitajima professor Graduate School Social Design expert ODA projects compliance said: “The way Jica employee undermined bidding process conducted recipient countries malicious.” He also described jica reluctance disclose information matter inappropriate.”
“Unless agency explains details leak takes preventative measures could lead credibility Japan’s ODA 70-year history being called into question.”