EDITORIAL: Wanted: Transparency

RECENT events surrounding the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Commission on Audit (CoA) have brought to the forefront an issue of utmost importance: the accountability and transparency of government spending, especially concerning confidential funds.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro’s statement that the OVP’s actions amount to “suppression of public information” highlights the tension between the need for confidentiality in sensitive government operations and the public’s right to know how taxpayer money is being used.

The Vice President’s refusal to discuss the details of her office’s confidential fund spending, along with the OVP’s attempt to block the CoA from submitting audit reports to the House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee, raises serious concerns.

Such actions not only undermine the constitutional duty of Congress to oversee the expenditure of public funds but also erode public trust in government institutions.

The role of confidential funds in governance is indeed critical; they are often necessary for national security and sensitive operations that require discretion. However, the existence of confidentiality does not provide a blanket exemption from oversight.

As Rep. Luistro aptly put it, the constitutional power of Congress to review public spending is not just a right but a duty. This duty is crucial to ensure that every peso of taxpayer money is spent wisely and for its intended purpose.

The principle of checks and balances is fundamental to a functioning democracy. The separation of powers ensures that no single branch of government operates unchecked. However, when it comes to public funds, transparency and accountability must take precedence.

Congress’s oversight function is not merely a formality; it is a safeguard against misuse and corruption, ensuring that government officials are held accountable for their actions.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III’s suggestion to realign the OVP budget and reduce potential duplication of government programs is a step towards ensuring that public funds are used efficiently.

His remarks underscore a broader issue: the need for clarity in the roles and responsibilities of various government offices. It is not the Vice President’s role to engage in activities like distributing school bags or running bus routes; such tasks should be handled by the appropriate agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

This not only prevents redundancy but also ensures that specialized agencies can focus on their core functions.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s repeated statement that she is leaving it to Congress to decide the OVP’s budget should not be taken lightly. If Congress is to prove itself as a responsible guardian of public funds, it must go beyond rhetoric.

It must exercise its power of the purse with integrity, ensuring that the allocation of funds aligns with constitutional roles and the actual needs of the public.

The issue of confidential fund spending by the OVP is not just about the legality of budget allocations; it is about maintaining the trust of the Filipino people. The public deserves to know that their money is being used responsibly and for the greater good.

Transparency and accountability are not mere options—they are the pillars upon which a just and democratic society stands. It is the duty of every public servant to uphold these principles, for in doing so, they uphold the very essence of democracy itself.