FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
8 oc1' ".( c. ., . , 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Sections 27 and 28 provide: 
SEC. 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in 
the public service and take positive and effective measures 
against graft and corruption. 
SEC. 28. Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by 
law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public 
disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest. 
Further, the Constitution, Article 3, Section 7 states: 
The right of the people to information on matters of 
public concern shall be recognized. 
Access to official 
records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official 
acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government 
research data used as basis for policy development, shall be 
afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be 
provided by law. 
The grant of Government Funding to entities or organizations should be a 
transparent process so that, taxpayers will have the ability to know exactly how their 
money is being spent and, with that greater transparency, will come greater 
accountability. 
This bill seeks to statutorily establish and maintain a websites that contains 
information on all Government financial assistance and expenditures that include grants, 
contracts, sub-grants, subcontracts, loans, awards, cooperative agreements, purchase 
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orders, task orders, delivery orders, and other forms of financial assistance accessible to 
our constituents. 
This bill expands upon E-Government management tools by making all 
Government funding awards, grants, contracts and loans, easily searchable on a public 
Web site. 
This new tool will be a valuable asset in the continuing effort to spend the 
taxpayers' dollars wisely, without waste and without misuse. 
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SENATE 
S. B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING FULL DISCLOSURE OF ALL ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS 
RECEIVING GOVERNMENT FUNDS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives ojthe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act may be known as the "Government Funding, 
Accountability and Trunsparency Act". 
SECTION. 2. Definitions. 
( a) ENTITY- 
Includes, whether for profit or nonprofit the following: 
(1) a corporation; 
(2) an association; 
(3) a partnership; 
(4) a limited liability company; 
(5) a limited liability partnership; 
(6) a sole proprietorship; 
(7) any other legal business entity; 
(8) any other grantee or contractor that is not excluded by 
Subparagraph (B) or(C); and 
(9) any Local Government Unit; 
But does not i n c l u d e  
(1) an individual recipient of Govermnent assistance; or 
(2) a Government employee. 
(3) a Government agency or instrumentality 
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(b) GOVERNMENT AWARD- 
means Government financial assistance and 
expenditures that include grants, contracts, sub-grants, subcontracts, loans, 
awards, cooperative agreements, purchase orders, task orders, delivery orders, 
and other forms of financial assistance; 
(c) SEARCHABLE WEBSITE.-The 
term “searchable website” means a 
website that allows the public to- 
(1) search Government funding by any element 
(2) ascertain through a single search the total amount of Government 
funding awarded to an entity, by fiscal year; and 
(3) download data required by this Act in the outcome from searches. 
SECTION 3. Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Govevnment Funding. Not 
later than January 1, 2010, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall, in 
accordance with Executive Order No. 21 dated April 25, 1936, shall ensure the existence 
and operation of a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost to access, 
that includes for each Government award- 
(a) the name of the entity receiving the award; 
(b) the amount of the award; 
(c) information on the award including transaction type, funding agency, 
program source, and an award title descriptive of the purpose of each 
funding action; 
(d) the location of the entity receiving the award and the primary location 
of performance under the award, including the city, province, 
congressional district, and country; 
(e) a unique identifier of the entity receiving the award and of the parent 
entity of the recipient, should the entity be owned by another entity; 
and 
(f) any other relevant information specified by the Deparlment of Budget 
and Management. 
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SECTION 4. Scope ofData. The website shall include data for fiscal year 2008, 
and each fiscal year thereafter. 
SECTION 5. Designation ofngencies. The President may designate one or more 
Government agencies to participate in the development, establishment, operation, and 
support of the single website. In the initial designation, or in subsequent instructions and 
guidance, the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (the Secretary) 
may specify the scope of the responsibilities of each such agency. 
SECTION 6. Agency Responsibilities. The Government agencies concerned 
shall comply with the instructions and guidance issued by the Secretary as provided in 
Section 5 of this Act, and shall provide appropriate assistance to the Department of 
Budget and Management upon request, so as to assist it in ensuring the existence and 
operation of the single website. 
SECTION 7. Use of COA Data. The website established under this section may 
use as additional source of its data the Official website of the Commission on Audit, if all 
of these data sources are searchable through the website and can be accessed in a single 
search. 
The website shall not be considered in compliance if it merely hyperlinks to the 
official website of the Commission on Audit, or other existing websites, but the 
information elements required in Section 3 cannot be searched electronically by field in a 
single search. 
The website shall provide an opportunity for the public to provide input about the 
utility of the site and recommendations for improvements. It shall be updated not later 
than 30 days after the grant of any Government award requiring a posting. 
SECTION 8. Pilot Program. Not later than July 1, 2009, the Secretary shall 
commence a pilot program to test the collection and accession of data about sub-grants 
and subcontracts; and determine how to implement a sub-award reporting program, 
which includes the following: 
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(a) a reporting systeni under which the entity issuing a sub-grant or subcontract is 
responsible for fulfilling the sub-award reporting requirement; and 
(b) a mechanism for collecting and incorporating agency and public feedback on 
the design and utility of the website. 
The pilot program under this section shall terminate not later than January 1, 
2010. 
SECTION 9. Reporting of Sub-awards. Except as provided in Section 8 of this 
Act, but not later than January 1,2010, the Department of Budget and Management shall 
ensure the following: 
(a) that data regarding sub-awards are disclosed in the same manner as 
data regarding other Government awards, as required by this Act; and 
(b) that the method for collecting and distributing data about sub-awards: 
(1) minimizes burdens imposed on Government award recipients 
and sub-award recipients; 
(2) allows Government award recipients and sub-award recipients 
to allocate reasonable costs for the collection and reporting of sub-award 
data as in direct costs; and 
(3) establishes cost-effective requirements for collecting sub-award 
data under block grants, formula grants, and other types of assistance from 
the National Government and local Government Units. 
SECTION 10. Construction. Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the Department of 
Budget and Management from including in the website access to data that is publicly 
available in any other Government data base. 
SECTION 11. Reporting. The Department of Budget and Management shall 
submit to the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) of the 
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Senate an annual report regarding the implementation of the website established under 
this Act which shall contain the following: 
(a) data regarding the usage and public feedback on the utility of the site 
including recommendationsfor improving data quality and collection; 
(b) an assessment of the reporting burden placed on Government award 
and sub-award recipients; and 
(c) an explanation of any extension of the sub-award reporting deadline, 
if applicable. 
SECTION 12. Publication. The Department of Budget and Management shall 
make each report submitted under the preceding paragraph publicly available on the 
website established under this Act. 
SECTION 13. Classified Information. Nothing in this Act shall require the 
disclosure of classified information as may be defined by law. 
SECTION 14. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
amount as hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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