National Budget Circular 542

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 agency’s mandates and functions, names of its officials with their position and designation, and contact information; (ii) annual 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 agency’s website which contains an index of downloadable items of each of the above-mentioned documents.

Transparency Seal Logo

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.

Transparency Seal Provision of the General Appropriations Act

  1. Agency’s mandate and functions, Name of Officials with Position and Designation, and Contact Information
    1. BSWM’s mandate and function
    2. Position, designation and contact information of BSWM officials
  2. Annual Financial Reports (as of December 31, end of the Fiscal Year / whole year / 4th Quarter)
    1. FAR No. 1
    2. BAR No. 1
    3. FAR No. 5
  3. DBM Approved Budget and Corresponding Targets for Current Fiscal Year (FY)
    1. Budget for Current Year
    2. GAA Targets for Current Year
  4. Project, Programs and Activities, Beneficiaries, and Status of Implementation for Current FY
  5. System of Ranking Delivery Units
  6. Indicative Annual Procurement Plan (APP) Non-Common Supplies and Equipment (Non-CSE) for Succeeding Fiscal Year
    1. APP CSE
    2. APP non-CSE
    3. Indicative APP non-CSE
  7. ISO Certifications
  8. The Agency Review and Compliance Procedure of Statements and Financial Disclosures (SALN Procedure)
  9. Freedom of Information