German agency cites DOF's good governance platform

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance’s platform for citizen participation on good governance has been recognized by a Germany-based organization.

In an announcement posted on its website, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty Philippines said the Finance department’s “Pera ng Bayan” will be given special recognition for using the Internet to encourage citizen’s participation in governance.

The foundation, according to its website, was established 1958 by Theodor Heuss, the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany and “promotes individual freedom and liberalism.”

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, the brains behind Pera ng Bayan, said the project is significant in the government’s fight against tax evasion and corruption.

“Pera ng Bayan is an initiative of the Department of Finance to engage the citizenry in our fight against tax evasion, smuggling and other corruption in our revenue agencies,” Purisima said.

The DOF launched the site in July last year to provide citizens an outlet to air their grievances and register their complaints against erring public officials.

So far, the site has received a total of 2,180 reports. Four complaints have already resulted into cases filed before the Ombudsman, while 885 were already forwarded to concerned agencies for corresponding action.

Purisima urged the public to maximize the Pera ng Bayan project and to remain vigilant and involved in the Aquino administration’s cleansing of the bureaucracy.

 “Tax evasion and smuggling is a crime against the people. It deprives the government the resources to provide more school buildings, better health care, and other basic services. Let us be reminded that the fight against corruption is the fight of all of us. I encourage everyone who has knowledge to come forward and assist the government by simply reporting to us any possible abuse you may have encountered from any public official or employee,” he explained.

According to the DOF, the competition “opened on June 19 this year and gathered a total of 32 entries ranging from local and national programs and projects as well as landmark pieces of legislation in the Philippines that were put into online voting until October.”