During the first quarter of 2006, PWI sought the assistance of experts from different fields to assist in the development of the Differential Expenditure Efficiency Management (DEEM) Tool. The said Tool shall respond to the need for a standard mode of measuring operating efficiency or inefficiency that is empirical in nature. It is vital to utilize results of such measurement as a platform for a focused and effective advocacy reform to address inefficiency and corruption, as empirical-based surveys are more difficult to refute than those that are perception-based.

In a series of meetings, the chosen experts agreed to collaborate with PWI on the Project. To formalize the accord, a Signing Ceremony and Project Team Meeting were jointly held on 18 April 2006 at the U.P. School of Economics, Diliman, Quezon City. The experts, namely, Dr. Ana Tabunda and Charlie Labina, Ms. Heidi Mendoza and Ms. Virginia Garriel, and Engr. Arturo Lim hail from the fields of statistics, accounting and engineering, respectively. The statisticians are professors at the University of the Philippines, while Ms. Mendoza and Ms. Garriel work for the executive branch of Government. Engr. Lim on the other hand, represents the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and shall, along with PWI representatives, make up the Team of Assessors.

During the Meeting, PWI President and Chief Executive Officer Ms. Josefina U. Esguerra underscored that the Project is anchored on public participation in an audit of a government entity, and thus requires the active participation of civil society organizations, such as PWI and NAMFREL as Assessors.

The Project is supported by the United States Agency for International Development through The Asia Foundation.