MikeLigalig.com

An anti-corruption advocate in North Cotabato hailed Senator Teopisto Guingona’s proposal to include representatives from the non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups in the open budget process.

Guingona filed Senate Bill No. 2186 or the, “People’s Participation in Budget Deliberations Act of 2010”, which seeks to institutionalize the active participation of the people’s organizations in the budget process.

Vilma Gonzales, secretary-general of the Watchful Advocates for Transparency, Clean, and Honest Governance (Watch) in Kidapawan City, said Guingona’s proposal would provide a venue for better transparency in governance.

“There is fair and equitable distribution of public funds. Walang lamangan sa hatian ng pondo. At nakatitiyak tayo na ang mas nangangailangan ang mabibigyan ng sapat na pondo,” said Gonzales.

Gonzales said corruption in the government could start in budget preparation.

Gonzales, along with other officials and members of Watch Kidapawan, have just completed an advanced training on transparency and anti-corruption reporting for journalists and civil society organizations here on Monday given by the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP).

The Watch Kidapawan is the first media-CSO anti-corruption watchdog which PPTRP helped develop and establish to monitor and report on transparency and accountability in government projects in Kidapawan City.

Guingona has called on the country’s NGOs and civic organizations to rally behind his bill that will enshrine peoples’ right to actively participate in the transparent allocation and use of public funds.

“This active participation also underscores that the financial resources that become part of national budget actually belong to the people,” stressed Guingona. (PNA)

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