Transparency

In National Budget Circular No. 542, issued on August 29, 2012, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reiterates compliance by all offices of the national government, including state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and local government units with Section 98, the Transparency Seal provision, of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10155, also known as the General Appropriations Act of 2012, to wit:

“Sec. 93. Transparency Seal. To enhance transparency and enforce accountability, all national government agencies shall maintain a transparency seal on their official websites. The transparency seal shall contain the following information:

(i) the agency’s mandates and functions, names of its officials with their position and designation, and contact information;

(ii) annual reports, as required under National Budget Circular Nos. 507 and 507-A dated January 31, 2007 and June 12, 2007, respectively, for the last three (3) years;

(iii) their respective approved budgets and corresponding targets immediately upon approval of this Act;

(iv) major programs and projects categorized in accordance with the five key results areas under E.O. No. 43, s. 2011;

(v) the program/projects beneficiaries as identified in the applicable special provisions;

(vi) status of implementation and program/project evaluation and/or assessment reports; and

(vii) annual procurement plan, contracts awarded and the name of contractors/suppliers/consultants.”

The Circular also declares that the respective heads of the agencies shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with this section.

The Circular directs that the Transparency Seal must be prominently displayed on the main page of the agency website, and linked to a page within the agency website that contains the aforementioned documents in downloadable format.

Symbolism of the Transparency Seal

A pearl that is buried inside a tightly-shut shell is practically worthless. Government information is a pearl, meant to be shared with the public in order to maximize its inherent value.

The Transparency Seal, depicted by a pearl shining out of an open shell, is a symbol of a policy shift towards openness in access to government information. On the one hand, it hopes to inspire Filipinos in the civil service to be more open to citizen engagement; on the other, it seeks to invite the Filipino citizenry to exercise their right to participate in governance.

This initiative is envisioned as a step in the right direction towards solidifying the position of the Philippines as the Pearl of the Orient – a shining example for democratic virtue in the region.

FDA of the DOH Compliance with Section 93 (Transparency Seal) R.A. No. 10155 (General Appropriations Act FY 2012)

I. Agency's Mandate, Vision, Mission and List of Officials

I. Mandate

As a regulatory agency under the Department of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, created under Republic Act No. 3720, series of 1963, as amended by Executive Order 175, series of 1987, otherwise known as the “Food, Drugs and Devices, and Cosmetics Act”, and subsequently Republic Act No. 9711 otherwise known as “The Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009”, is mandated to ensure the safety, efficacy or quality of health products as defined by RA No. 97111, which include means food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, biologicals, vaccines, in-vitro diagnostic reagents, radiation-emitting devices or equipment, and household/urban hazardous substances, including pesticides and toys, or consumer products that may have an effect on health which require regulations as determined by the FDA.

Among others, the FDA is also mandated to enforce the provisions of the following laws:

RA 9502, or The Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicine Act of 2008
RA 6675, or The Generics Act Of 1988,
RA 5921, or The Pharmacy Law,
RA 9211, or The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003
RA 7394, or The Consumer Act of the Philippines
RA 7581/10623, or The Price Act
RA 10611, or The Food Safety Act of 2013
RA 8172, or The ASIN Law,
RA 8203, or The Special Law on Counterfeit Drug
RA 8976, or The Food Fortification Law
RA 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
RA 9257, or The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003
PD No. 881, or The Household Hazardous Act
EO No. 51, or The Milk Code of the Philippines
RA 10354, or The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Bill of 2012
PD 856, or The Code of Sanitation of the Philippines

II. Vision

The Food and Drug Administration to be an internationally recognized center of excellence in health product regulation by 2026.

III. Mision

To guarantee the safety, quality, purity, efficacy of products in order to protect and promote the right to health of the general public.

IV. List of Officials

	Dr. Samuel A. Zacate, FICS FPSVI DPCOM CSPSH, Director General	Office of the Director General
	Atty. Ronald R. De Veyra, MBA, CESO II, Deputy Director General for Internal Management	Office of the Deputy Director General for Internal Management
	Dr. Oscar G. Gutierrez, Jr., MPA, PCVPH, Deputy Director General for Field Regulatory Operations Office	Office of the Deputy Director General for Field Regulatory Operations Office
	Atty. John Benedict G. Aguzar, Director III	Administrative and Finance Service
	Engr. Ana Trinidad F. Rivera, Director IV	Center for Cosmetics and Household Urban Hazardous Substances Regulation and Research
	Jesusa Joyce N. Cirunay, Director IV	Center for Drug Regulation and Research
	Maria Cecilia C. Matienzo, Director IV	Center for Device Regulation, Radiation and Health Research
	Pilar Marilyn M. Pagayunan, Director IV	Center for Food Regulation and Research
	Jocelyn E. Balderrama, RPh., MBA, Director III	Common Services Laboratory
	Atty. Emilio L. Polig, Jr., Director III	Legal Services Support Center
	Estrellita B. Pastolero, MGM, Officer-In-Charge	Food and Drug Action Center
	Irene Florentino-Fariñas, RPh., MD, MNSA, Director III	Policy and Planning Service
	Gomel C. Gabuna, LlB, MDM, CESE, Director II	North Luzon Cluster, Field Regulatory Operations Officer
	Arnold G. Alindada, Dr. HCM, MPH, RMT, Director II	South Luzon Cluster, Field Regulatory Operations Office
	Rica Reina C. Aumentado, Director II, Officer-In-Charge	Visayas Cluster, Field Regulatory Operations Office
	Deborah S. Legaspi, Director II	Mindanao East Cluster, Field Regulatory Operations Office
	Sharon Rose P. Garcia, Director II, Officer-In-Charge	Mindanao West Cluster, Field Regulatory Operations Office