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Make local government unit (LGU)’s budget and expenses public.
This was the demand of A-Teacher party-list Rep. Julieta Cortuna from House Committee on Ethics and Accountability when she filed House Bill No.2742.
In her legislation, Cortuna asked the House panel to direct the Commission on Audit (CoA) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to draft a template towards full disclosure in local governments.
The lawmaker proposed for CoA and DBM to create a new Norm of Democratic Practice, which will disclose LGU’s budget and finances, expenditures, disbursements, and funds utilization publicly.
“With the help of a template, we can heighten public accountability in all levels of government, especially at the local government level so people could appreciate the workings of government and where taxes are spent,” Cortuna said.
The lady solon wanted to require governors and mayors to disclose and post the fiscal item, as well as bids and public offerings.
She was referring to LGU’s annual budget, quarterly statement of cash flows, statement of receipts and expenditures, as well as the utilization of pork barrels and special education funds among others.
Her bill orders local treasurers, accountants, budget officers, and other accountable officers to post the fiscal items in three publicly accessible and conspicuous places in their website and national newspaper.
Fourteen early winners in the party-list race have been named Friday even as the protracted count of votes continues.
