‘No report, no fund release’ rule in 2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

THE Department of Budget and Management will strictly implement a ‘no report, no release’ policy this year as one way to strengthen the campaign on transparency and accountability.

“DBM is very firm in enforcing the ‘no report, no release’ rule for the submission of budget accountability reports (BARs). Agencies and departments that do not comply with this will not receive their releases from the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund (MPBF),” said DBM Secretary Florencio Abad.

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BARs outline an agency’s actual accomplishments within a given period, including the quarterly physical reports both on operation and income as well as monthly reports on statement of allotments, obligations and balances and disbursements.

“We will also publish a list of both errant and compliant agencies in the DBM official website to help the public stay abreast of fund release developments,” he added.

Funds to be withheld from the MBPF include the third tranche compensation adjustment under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 3 and provisions for unfilled positions as well as employee clothing allowances. The withheld releases will also include the fourth tranche compensation adjustment under SSL 4, which is set for July 2012, and the provisions for unfilled positions for the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the year.

Abad said that by limiting withheld funds to the MBPF, “we can ensure that the penalties affect only the agencies themselves and not their funds for implementing critical programs and services. The ‘no report, no release’ policy will not prevent them from executing their set projects for the fiscal year so there won’t be any disruptions in the delivery of public goods and services.”

DBM is urging all agencies to comply with their reporting requirements because the former cannot fulfill the releases without proper documentary support. “Besides ensuring that public funds are put to good use, we also want agencies to receive their required releases and we’re quite sure that all departments will do their best in complying with the reporting policy.” (CGC)