Ombudsman rolls out online SALN filing

Government officials and employees can file their statement of assets, liabilities and net worth online starting next year as the Office of the Ombudsman has launched its webbased electronic system for SALN submissions.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales signed on Sept. 27 Memorandum Circular No. 2, directing all heads of departments, bureaus, offices and agencies of the national and local governm ent units to submit to the agency hard copies of the SALNs of their respective officials and employees together with the corresponding electronic copies on or before June 30 of every year.

The circular also covered the Armed Forces of the Philippines, government-owned and controlled corporations and their subsidiaries and other concerned offices.

The electronic copy of the SALN must be in PDF format and individually saved per declarant in compact discs or flash drives.

The circular also requires the submission of a certification stating that the electronically submitted SALNs are faithful reproduction of the original copies.

The implementation of the electronic filing of SALN is in accordance with a memorandum of agreement signed between the Office of the Ombudsman and the World Bank in May 2013 for the project dubbed “Enhancing the Income and Asset Declaration System.”

The project aims to develop a digital-based online system for the bureaucracywide filing of SALNs.

Under the new system, any official or employee of the government may access, fill up and file the SALN online using a web browser.

Electronic filing of SALN was partially implemented in May last year in selected government agencies such as the ombudsman, Civil Service Commission and Anti-Money Laundering Council.

“The electronic SALN is a key institutional mechanism to prevent corruption and promote accountability and ethical standards in public service,” the ombudsman said in a statement.

Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees mandates all government officials and employees to file their SALNs within 30 days after assumption to office or on or before April 30 of every year, and within 30 days after separation from the service.