Transparency Seal Explained

TRANSPARENCY SEAL EXPLAINED

 

In National Budget Circular No. 542, issued on August 29, 2012, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reiterates compliance by all offices of the national government, including state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and local government units with Section 98, the Transparency Seal provision, of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10155, also known as the General Appropriations Act of 2012, 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 Circular also declares that the respective heads of the agencies shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this section.

The Circular directs that the Transparency Seal must be prominently displayed on the main page of the agency website, and linked to a page within the agency website that contains the aforementioned documents in downloadable format.

 

The symbolism of the Transparency Seal

A pearl that is 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, it seeks 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.

DENR compliance with Transparency Seal (per Annex 2 of DBM Memo Circular No. 2018-01 dated May 28, 2018)

 

I. DENR mandates and functions, names of officials with their positions and designations, and contact information

II. Annual Financial Reports

A. FAR No.1 Statement of Appropriations, Allotments, Obligations, Disbursements and Balances (SAAOBDB)

B. FAR No.4 Summary Reports on Disbursement

 C. BAR No.1 Quarterly Physical Report of Operations

D. BED No. 2 Physical Plan

E. FAR No. 5 Quarterly Report on Revenue and Other Receipts

F. BED No. 1 Financial Plan

III. DBM Approved Budget and Targets

IV. Projects and Activities, Beneficiaries, and Status of Implementation

a. Enhanced National Greening Program

  • a.1 FY 2024  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )
  • a.2 FY 2023  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )
  • a.3 FY 2022  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )
  • a.4 FY 2021  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )

b. Land Disposition

  • b.1 FY 2024  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )
  • b.2 FY 2023  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )
  • b.3 FY 2022  (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )
  • b.4 FY 2021 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 )

 

V. Annual Procurement Plan

 

VI. QMS Certification of at least one core process by any international organization approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force or ISO 9001:2015 aligned QMS documents

 

VII. System of Ranking Delivery Units 

 

VIII. The Agency Review and Compliance Procedure of Statements and Financial Disclosure

 

IX. Freedom of Information (FOI)