Guidelines Establishing a Standard Review and Compliance Procedure for the Submission of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (Saln)

2018

DICT DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 5, S. 2018

GUIDELINES ESTABLISHING A STANDARD REVIEW AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND NETWORTH (SALN)

WHEREAS, Section 10 of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and CSC Resolution Nos. 1300455 and 1500088 require the establishment and conduct of an agency review and compliance procedure for the submission of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN); cCHITA

WHEREAS, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring, Information and Reporting Systems issued on May 28, 2018 Memorandum Circular No. 2018-1 establishing the guidelines on the grant of the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) for Fiscal Year 2018 under Executive Order No. 80 series of 2012 and Executive Order No. 261 series of 2016;

WHEREAS, item 6.5a of the aforesaid circular sets the establishment and conduct of Agency Review and Compliance Procedure for the submission of SALN as one of the cross-cutting requirements for agencies to be entitled to PBB for 2018 and the posting of the scanned copy of the subject procedures in the transparency seal page of the agency website not later than 01 October 2018;

WHEREFORE, foregoing premises considered, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) hereby adopts the following guidelines with the end-in-view of institutionalizing a standard review and compliance procedure for the submission of SALN, in compliance with Section 10 of RA 6713 and other pertinent laws, to wit:

I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

PUBLIC OFFICE IS PUBLIC TRUST. Government officials and employees occupy positions vested with public trust. Thus, requiring him/her to put public interest over and above his/her own.

This is well-settled in Section 2 of RA 6713, to wit: "It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest." CScaDH

STANDARDS OF PERSONAL CONDUCT. Eight norms of conduct have been established for government officials and employees to adhere to as provided for in Section 4 of RA 6713, to wit: "Every public official and employee shall observe the following as standards of personal conduct in the discharge and execution of official duties (a) Commitment to public interest, (b) Professionalism, (c) Justness and sincerity, (d) Political neutrality, (e) Responsiveness to the public, (f) Nationalism and patriotism, (g) Commitment to democracy, and (h) Simple living."

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. The primary use of the information on the SALN is to exhibit transparency and accountability.

This is provided for in Section 8 of RA 6713, to wit: "Public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households."

II. COVERAGE

These guidelines cover all officials and employees assigned in the different organizational units who are based in the DICT Central Office and those assigned in the different Regional Offices, whether appointive, permanent, co-terminous with the incumbent, co-terminous with the project, and co-terminous with the official to be served. aHSTID

In the interest of administrative efficiency, attached agencies may promulgate their own guidelines establishing a review and compliance procedure for the submission of SALN of the officials and employees under their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Exempted from filing the SALN are those serving on honorary capacity, laborers, and casual/temporary workers (e.g., Job Order staff). However, those holding career positions under temporary status are required to file their SALN.

III. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE DICT REVIEW AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF SALN

Review and Compliance Committees for SALN shall be created for the Central Office and each of the Regional Offices to ensure administrative efficiency with the following composition:

Chair	–	Director for Administrative Service (Central Office) Regional Director/Assistant Regional Director (Reg'l Offices)
Members	–	Chief, Human Resource Management Division (Central Office)Chief, Administrative and Finance Division (Regional Offices)Chief, Legal Division (Central Office)HR Management Officer (Regional Offices)

A Secretariat comprised of 3-5 members for the Central Office Committee and one each for the Regional Committees shall be recommended for approval of the Secretary/Acting Secretary of the DICT. Each Secretariat shall be tasked to provide technical, administrative and logistical support to the Review and Compliance Committee.

The Review and Compliance Committees shall discharge the following powers and functions:

3.1 Establish standard procedures for the review of the statements whether they are submitted on time, completely filled-out and accomplished in proper form. CDHaET

3.2 In the event that a determination is made that a statement is not so filed, the Committee shall inform the reporting individual and direct him/her to take the necessary corrective action.

3.3 The designated Committees shall have the power, within their respective areas of jurisdiction, to render any opinion interpreting Republic Act 6713, in writing, to persons covered by it, subject in each instance to the approval of the top management (EXECOM) for employees assigned in the Central Office and the regional management for those assigned in the Regional Offices.

The individual to whom an opinion is rendered, and any other individual involved in a similar factual situation, and who, after the issuance of the opinion acts in good faith in accordance with it shall not be subject to any sanction provided in Republic Act 6713.

Forward to the disciplining authority, the Acting Secretary/Secretary of the DICT, cases wherein actions of bad faith are found.

3.4 Cascade the DICT Review and Compliance Procedure used by the Review and Compliance Committee to all employees assigned within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

3.5 Ensure that a scanned copy of the DICT Review and Compliance Procedure is uploaded in the Transparency Seal page of the DICT website not later than the deadline set every year by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring, Information and Reporting Systems.

3.6 Submit to the concerned office the duly accomplished and reviewed SALN Forms with certification that the same have been filed completely and on time and using the proper forms.

IV. STANDARD PROCEDURES

The process flow outlined in Annex "A" below shall be used by the Committee in reviewing compliance of the duly accomplished SALN Forms.

V. EFFECTIVITY

The guidelines shall take effect immediately.

(SGD.) ELISEO M. RIO JR.Acting Secretary

ANNEX A

Process Flow