Anti-Corruption and Transparent, Accountable and Participatory Governance

The abuse of privileges in public office to gain personal profit inevitably leads to the rise in the incidence of poverty and inequality. This Administration has been consistently battling corrupt practices through increased transparency in governance. The more transparent governance is, the more people will want to participate in it, and the more the public will hold public officials accountable. Digitization of Financial Processes

To step up the administrations drive to curb corruption and promote transparency and accountability, P238 million is allotte d to digitize financial processes in government. This fund will support the development of a centralized payroll system for government agencies; and an integrated financial management information system, which enables the government to effectively manage its fund allocations, maintain fiscal discipline, and deliver services effectively.

Revenue Administration Reform

The BIR and the BOC are allotted a combined P6.5 billion to carry out programs to ensure tax compliance and enforcement, as well as enhanced revenue collections. In addition to this amount, P6.3 billion in automatic appropriations is allotted for tax refunds under the enhanced revenue collection program.

Strengthen Institutions and Democratic Practices

The year 2013 will mark the strengthening of certain government institutions with the help of funds that will make them more capable in giving better services to the people.

Clean and Fair Elections

DBM supports initiative for budget transparency

Abad: Aquino Admin committed to transparency, accountability & good govt Secretary Florencio B. Abad said that the Department of Budget and Management supports the initiative for budget transparency, stressing that the Aquino government is committed to its promise of transparency, accountability and good governance. This new government understands very well that prudent and responsible public expenditure management can be best achieved if transparency and accountability are hallmarked in the budget process, he said i n a speech delivered on his behalf during the launch of the Open Budget Index 2010 results for the Philippines. Furthermore, the ownership of the budget process and the budget itself by sectors it seeks to servemost especially the pooris a key means of securing public expenditure from narrow vested, partisan and patronage interests, he stressed. The Open Budget Index for 2010 (based on the national budget of 2009) gives the Philippines a rating of 55, up from 48 in the survey held in 2008 (based on the national budget of 2007). While the countrys present rating is highest among the Southeast Asian nations, the rating means that it provides some information to the public in its budget documents. Abad said he is confident that government can push the envelope and raise the standards even further for budget transparency in the Philippines, because the new leadership under President Benigno S. Aquino III provides a clear mandate towards this direction. First of all, we have a President who is committed to transparency, accountability and good governance. Secondly, President Aquino received a strong mandate in the elections based on the clear message of kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap, the budget secretary said. The President has also been able to assemble a Cabinet with a commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance. And lastly, this new administration is in close touch and collaboration with civil society and sectoral organizations committed to holding the Aquino Aqministration to its promise of transparency, accountability and good governance, he said.

DBM INITIATIVES FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

The economic manager said the Department is currently embarking on various initiatives in order to improve transparency, accountability and good governance in the area of public expenditure. These initiatives include the Reform Budget of 2011 submitted to Congress, the use of new technology available for information management and dissemination, close engagement with civil society organizations throughout the budget process, and other continuing public expenditure reforms. On the Reform Budget for 2011, he said that integrated within the P1.645-trillion proposal submitted to Congress are special provisions to institute transparency and accountability. For instance, special provisions require the publication of complete information on budgetary allocations and disbursements in the websites of the DBM and the implementing agencies. He also said the government is reducing the number of special purpose funds and lump-sum funds, and reforming the way these are being used. This include, for instance, making lump-sum fund releases contingent on master plans or network plans, as in the case of the irrigation and farm-to-market road lump-sum funds. In utilizing new information technology to ensure transparency and accountability, Abad said that the department recently

soft-launched a special webpage on the DBM website that discloses information on lump-sum releases made in 2009, Congressional allocations in the Department of Public Works and Highways, the School Building Fund, among others. To be uploaded soon are information on releases from the Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2009. He also said that the Philippine Government E-Procurement System (PhilGEPS) will be capable of enabling the online bidding of government contracts by the first quarter of next year. Aside from this, the department is strengthening its capability to fully automate budget release documents to enhance decision making through timely and accurate management reports. The department is also actively engaging partners in Civil Society in budget work. The Civil Society Organizations Desk within the Office of the Secretary has been recently created. It has so far we organized several consultations with CSOs on how to work together in the various phases of the budget and on other budget issues. Other continuing reforms that the DBM is working on are strengthening internal control systems to reduce waste and corruption, improving the predictability of funds and cash releases, improving public expenditure and financial accountability systems, and having a Medium-Term Expenditure Framework that will ensure that expenditures are driven by strategic priorities. Transparency Seal Transparency Seal National Budget Circular 542, issued by the Department of Budget and Management on August 29, 2012, reiterates compliance with Section 93 of the General Appropriations Act of FY2012. Section 93 is the Transparency Seal provision, to wit: Sec. 93. Transparency Seal. To enhance transparency and enforce accountability, all national government agencies shall maintain a transparency seal on their official websites. The transparency seal shall contain the following information: (i) the agencys mandates and functions, names of its officials with their position and designation, and contact information; (ii) an nual reports, as required under National Budget Circular Nos. 507 and 507-A dated January 31, 2007 and June 12, 2007, respectively, for the last three (3) years; (iii) their respective approved budgets and corresponding targets immediately upon approval of this Act; (iv) major programs and projects categorized in accordance with the five key results areas under E.O. No. 43, s. 2011; (v) the program/projects beneficiaries as identified in the applicable special provisions; (vi) status of implementation and program/project evaluation and/or assessment reports; and (vii) annual procurement plan, contracts awarded and the name of contractors/suppliers/consultants. The respective heads of the agencies shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this section. A Transparency Seal, prominently displayed on the main page of the website of a particular government agency, is a certificate that it has complied with the requirements of Section 93. This Seal links to a page within the agencys website which contain s an index of downloadable items of each of the above-mentioned documents. Symbolism A pearl buried inside a tightly-shut shell is practically worthless. Government information is a pearl, meant to be shared with the public in order to maximize its inherent value. The Transparency Seal, depicted by a pearl shining out of an open shell, is a symbol of a policy shift towards openness in access to government information. On the one hand, it hopes to inspire Filipinos in the civil service to be more open to citizen engagement; on the other, to invite the Filipino citizenry to exercise their right to participate in governance. This initiative is envisioned as a step in the right direction towards solidifying the position of the Philippines as the Pearl of the Orient a shining example for democratic virtue in the region.