Siquijor Rep. Jake Vincent Villa has filed House Bill No. 7373 mandating public officials to use a more detailed Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth form and requiring them to declare the gifts they received, their financial transactions, and travels for the year.
Villa sought to amend Section 8 of RA No. 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which mandates all government officials and employees, regardless of their salary grades, to use a uniform SALN form.
“No less than the Supreme Court emphasized the importance of complying with the constitutional mandate to submit the SALN form. It served as monitoring the income and lifestyle of officials and employees in the government in compliance with the constitutional policy to eradicate corruption, promote transparency in government, and ensure that all government employees and officials lead just and modest lives,” Villa said.
“Hence, there is a need to amend the law by requiring public officials to use a more detailed SALN form, which will require the declaration of the gifts received, financial transactions, and travels for the year,” he said.
HB 7373 provides that public officials with Salary Grade 27 and above, including offices who are under the jurisdiction of Sandiganbayan or heads of office, should use a more detailed SALN form which indicates:
-- Gifts indicating the identity of the source, a brief description, and the value of the gifts.
-- Financial transactions such as, but not limited to, sale, donation, assignment, including the date and amount of transaction.
-- Travels reporting all travel and travel-related reimbursements from a single source and connected to official business with information on the source, dates, purpose of the travel, and itinerary.
“Transparency curbs corruption. There is a need for this measure in order to reflect true wealth of a government official,” Villa said.
Villa’s bill also provides that for purpose of computing the declarant’s worth, the current fair market value of the real property indicated in the tax declaration of the real property concerned shall be used.