By Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star) Updated November 28, 2010
MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago has called for greater transparency in all government transactions and the use of funds under the national budget.
Santiago commended the recent introduction of live video streaming of Senate sessions, starting with the ongoing deliberations on the proposed 2011 national budget, to promote transparency in government.
But she stressed that the same should be accorded to the national budget.
“The national budget is the single most important piece of legislation Congress deliberates on. We should use the Internet as a valuable tool in our effort in spending taxpayers’ money efficiently under the watchful eye of the public. This great step to transparency begets greater accountability,” she said.
In line with her effort to promote greater transparency and accountability in government, Santiago also filed Senate Bill No. 1675 which would pave the way for the creation of a website dedicated to providing information on the names of organizations and entities receiving government awards, including details of the award amount, descriptions of the award, location of the receiving entity, and other data specified by the Department of Budget and Management.
The website would also contain information from fiscal year 2008 onwards for reference of viewers.
“The grant of government funding to entities and organizations should be a transparent process so that taxpayers will have the ability to know exactly how their money is being spent,” Santiago said.
Also known as the proposed Government Funding, Accountability and Transparency Act, the bill aims to expand upon e-government management tools in releasing information on various government financial assistance and expenditures.
These include grants, contracts, sub-grants, sub-contracts, loans, awards, cooperative agreements, purchase orders, task orders, delivery orders, and other forms of financial assistance accessible to constituents.
Visitors of the website, including the various government agencies
, would also be allowed to post their feedback on the data and other information contained therein.
Santiago cited three provisions of the Constitution to support her bill – Article 2, Sections 27 and 28 and Article 3, Section 7.
Article 2, Section 27 provides that “the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.”
Section 28 provides that “subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.”
Article 3, Section 7 states that “the right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”
“This new tool will be a valuable asset in the continuing effort to spend the taxpayers’ money wisely, without waste and without misuse,” Santiago said. a
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