Philippines rolls out govt funds tracking system

DBM Secretary Florencio Abad

The Philippine Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has launched a management information system programme that keeps track of government lamp sum spending. The system, called electronic Transparency and Accountability Initiative for Lump Sum Funds (eTAILS), digitizes the processing of lump sum funds and supports the timely disclosure of lump sum fund release information on the DBM website (www.dbm.gov.ph).

The module for the priority development assistance fund has been rolled out during the initial phase of eTAILS project.

“This will help us not only to accurately keep track of information on such releases but also to allow the people to scrutinize how their money is allocated by their elected officials,” said DBM Secretary Florencio Abad.

The phase one also includes other lump-sum funds such as internal revenue allotment of local government units and the school building funds.

Meanwhile, the second phase will be developed to strengthen accountability in the use of lump-sum funds.

Its features will enable agencies to electronically submit reports together with photos, video and other supporting files on projects under lump sum funds.

The budget department likewise unveiled the 2011 People’s Budget which is a simplified version of the 2011 National Budget.

“We translated the National Budget into a language that is easier to understand by the people. This, we hope, will be able to help citizens participate more in the budget process,” Abad said.

The People’s Budget contains a summary of the 2011 General Appropriations Act, including budgetary allocations for priority programmes and projects. It also contains basics on the Philippine budget process.

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