A Transparency Seal prominently displayed on the main page of a government agency's website certifies that the concerned agency has complied with Section 93 or the Transparency Seal provisions of the General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2012. The Department of Budget and Management's National Budget Circular 542 issued on August 29, 2012, reiterates compliance to said provisions envisioned to enhance transparency and enforce accountability.
The Transparency Seal is depicted by a pearl shining out of an open shell, symbolizing 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.
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.