MENRE TRANSPARENCY SEAL COMPLIANCE
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 FY 2012. 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.
BARMM-MENRE compliance with Transparency Seal
1. LAND SURVEY, DISPOSITION, RECORDS AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
– Ensure the provision of more accurate land information and establishment of records-keeping and management
2. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION COMPLIANCE, AMBIENT MONITORING and POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM
– Ensure environmental compliance of industries and businesses, and strict implementation of major environmental laws
3. NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY ENFORCEMENT, CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
– Enhance forest protection and law enforcement, reforest and rehabilitate BARMM forestlands, and ensure sustainable management of forestland resources
4. MINERAL RESOURCES AND GEOSCIENCES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
– Manage disposition of mineral lands and mineral resources; and promulgate rules, regulations and policies on mineral resources governance and geosciences developments
5. BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT, RESEARCH AND PROTECTED AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
– Strengthen wildlife rescue, management of BARMM Protected Areas, and collection of data essential to biodiversity conservation
6. ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
– Improve energy security in the region and boost service delivery in BARMM’s energy sector