BOC, SEC vow more transparency

CEBU, Philippines - Government agencies that are usually tagged “corrupt” yesterday bared measures to promote transparency, thereby reducing risks of abuse.

Among these agencies were the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue and Securities and Exchange Commission, all represented in yesterday’s “Talakayan on Good Governance” at the Crown Regency Hotel and Towers in Cebu City.

According to BOC Commissioner John Philip Sevilla, they have already developed a regular monitoring system.

Sevilla stressed that a monthly reporting of all transactions is being done by their office, except for the names of exporters and importers and confidential details to protect the identity of people the BOC transacts with.

The BOC, Sevilla added, also intends to purchase three vessels to combat smugglers onboard vessels without proper documents and permits.

The SEC, for its part, shared more strict guidelines in granting recognitions to non-government organizations to prevent chances of being used for corruption, especially those involving transactions with government officials like the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program.

SEC General Counsel Camilo Correa said groups that wish to be recognized by their office must prove that they can stably operate.

With this, an internal funding of P1 million is required.

Correa clarified that this is not a “show money” per se, but rather a convincing factor that the group is not “fly-by-night” and will disintegrate after successful anomalous transactions, especially with the government.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, and Senator Bam Aquino were supposed to grace yesterday’s session but did not make it.

Yesterday’s forum was part of the Visayas leg of Good Governance Dialogues, which gathered government officials from Regions 6, 7 and 8 to discuss good governance, open government and the national budget. — (FREEMAN)