PHL ranks No. 1 in Asia in budget transparency — int’l research institute

The Philippines secured the number one spot in Asia in terms of budget transparency, results of the Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2017 showed.

Held every two years, the survey assesses budget transparency based on the amount and timeliness of budget information governments make available to the public, and whether the public is given opportunities "to participate in the budget process at the national level."

After being evaluated against 109 equally weighted indicators, each country receives a composite score that determines its ranking on the OBI.

Transparency

In the survey, conducted by non-profit research group International Budget Partnership (IBP), the Philippines garnered a transparency or open budget index (OBI) score of 67 out of 100, up three points from its score in 2015 and well over the global average of 42.

The country is now in the top spot in Asia, followed by Indonesia with a score of 64, Jordan with 63, Japan at 60, and South Korea at 60. The Philippines also ranked 19th worldwide.

Public participation

The Philippines scored 41 out of 100 in the extent of public participation in the country’s budget process, more than three times the global average at 12.

It is one of only four countries to achieve a moderate score in the category, sharing this distinction with New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Budget oversight

The survey also measures budget oversight by the legislature and the supreme audit institution. The Philippines holds a score of 65 out of 100 in this category, with the legislature and the Commission on Audit providing adequate oversight over the budget.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the government is very proud of what it has accomplished.

"In surpassing our Asian neighbors, we have further cemented our position as a global leader in Open Government. It encourages us to persevere, to do even better, in the years ahead," he said.

"The Department of Budget and Management will continue to work with the legislature, our constitutional bodies, and our citizens to further enhance budget openness in the public sector."

The OBS uses internationally accepted criteria developed by multilateral organizations from sources such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT). — Ted Cordero/BM, GMA News