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.
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.
EMB Compliance with Sec. 91 (Transparency Seal) R.A. No. 10633 (General Appropriations Act FY 2014)
I. The agency’s mandates and functions, names of its officials with their position and designation, and contact information
A. The agency’s mandate, Vision, Mission and List of Officials
II. Annual Financial Reports
FAR NO.1: SAAOBDB (Statement of Appropriations, allotments, Obligations, Disbursements and Balances)
A. FAR NO.1 Statement of Appropriations, allotments, Obligations, Disbursements & Balances (as of March 31, 2016) Current Appropriation
A. FAR NO.1 Statement of Appropriations, allotments, Obligations, Disbursements & Balances (as of September 30, 2015) Current Appropriation
Summary Report on Disbursements
Quarterly Physical Report of Operations/Physical Plan
Quarterly Report on Revenue and other Receipts
Financial Plan ( Detailed Statement of Current Year’s Obligations Disbursements and Unpaid Obligations )
III. DBM Approved Budget and Targets
IV. Program,projects and activities, beneficiaries and Status of Implementation – not applicable
V. Annual Procurement Plan
VI. System of Ranking Delivery Units and Individuals
VII. Quality Management System Certified by international certifying body or Agency Operations Manual
VIII. MFO Accountability Report Card