CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/17 June) – Mayor Vicente Emano, in a radio interview today, claimed that Cagayan de Oro City is among the very first to fully implement the full disclosure policy (FDP) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Emano said, too, that “it might be even better if the policy included the cash advances of public officials.”
Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Norris Babiera said the policy is a welcome step towards making local government units transparent and accountable to its constituents.
“Aside from the fact that this policy is mandatory under the General Appropriations Act, this will encourage our constituents to take a more active role in local governance as direct stakeholders,” Babiera said.
He said the policy will definitely improve the checks and balances system in local governance.
The full disclosure policy of the DILG requires local government units (LGUs) to post their budget and financial transactions in government websites, newspapers of general circulation and even public bulletin boards.
This policy is part of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s Reform Agenda which aims to “promote transparency, accountability and good local governance.”
Last Thursday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo met with governors, city and municipal mayors of the region for a consultative conference on “Full Disclosure and Government-Civil Society Organization Regional Partnership for Advancing Good Local Governance” held here.
Robredo’s meeting with local chief executives of Northern Mindanao was aimed at “providing deeper understanding on the full disclosure policy to ensure committed implementation.”
Consultation participants, which included heads of national line agencies and representatives from non-government organizations, capped the gathering with a signing of a covenant of commitment on the FDP. (Cong B. Corrales / MindaNews)
