CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secrerary Jesse Robredo was here recently to promote and get the support of the local government units (LGU) for the full disclosure policy (FDP) being spearheaded by the DILG that would basically render more transparency in government transactions more transparent to the public.

By all indications, the FDP is a success in Central Visayas, as manifested by over 80 percent of local government executives in the region pledging to make their financial transactions, including bids and public offerings public.

The dialogue during the Tapatan Roadshow hosted by the DILG on the FDP, which included performance, accountability, responsiveness and transparency held at this city’s Radisson Blu Hotel, was attended by local officials

all over the region, including Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and other government officials and LGU employees in the region.

Robredo, who served as the keynote speaker of the event stressed the importance of a clean audit report to be available to the public through website posting and media accessibility among others public venues.

“We should have a clean audit report in conformity with the rules of the FDP as mandated under section 90 of Republic Act 10147 or the General Appropriations Act of 2011,” he said.

To recall, the DILG, through memorandum circular No.2011-08, has directed its attached agencies and all local chief executives to comply with the mandates of RA 10147, while another circular was made for full disclosure of local budget and finances, and bids and public offering.

On the same occasion, a covenant for the FDP was formally signed by various government officials in support of the call for transparency.

The FDP is intended to make the public aware of how much public funds are available for the development of their communities and to what extent the LGU can help them.

It is also aimed at keeping people informed on how public funds are allocated and spent to minimize and hopefully eradicate corruption.

During the said event at the Radisson Blu hotel, Robredo asked local officials to make people trust their LGUs by being transparent in all transactions.

"It is our big challenge on how to translate the campaign slogan of President (Benigno Simeon C.) Aquino (III) into something workable.

Disclosure is a tool, and not an end. It make us all accountable and eventually earn the people’s trust at the end of the day," Robredo said, as he reiterated that “our campaign is in line with President Noynoy Aquino’s call for a “matuwid

na daan (straight and narrow road)” to minimize, prevent graft and corruption in all government offices, including the local governments.”

The said Tapatan Roadshow saw Robredo, Garcia, Chatto, and over a hundred city and municipal mayors in Region 7 signing and reciting their commitment in a covenant for the FDP.

DILG Region 7 Director Pedro Noval Jr. also launched his office’s official website featuring activities and status of the concerned LGUs’ compliance with the FDP program.

Other than bids and public offerings, the FDP shall also require LGUs to post their budgets and finances, in government websites, newspapers of general circulation, and in conspicuous places within their localities.

Robredo lauded the pledges received that day, enthusing that it will pave the way for strengthened participation of all concerned sectors and stakeholders in the region towards accountable, responsive, and transparent local governance. (With a story by Czarina Nicole O. Ong)