Civil Service Commission backtracks on new SALN form

MANILA, Philippines—Amid the  hue and cry from lawmakers, the Civil Service Commission has deferred the use of a new form for the filing of statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) that would require public officials to disclose all their sources of income and detailed accounting of their families’  expenses.

In a resolution, the CSC said it would review the concerns raised about the new SALN form.

It also said public officials may use the old form in filing their SALNs for 2011, the deadline for which is on April 30.

But those who have already filed their SALNs using the new form need not file a new one, and are deemed to have complied with the requirement to disclose their assets and liabilities, the CSC added.

In its resolution, the commission said the new SALN form was made in compliance with the laws requiring the filing of such statements. But it decided to postpone its use because of the concerns raised by various sectors.

“The Commission maintains that the Revised SALN Form is anchored on subsisting laws that require the submission of SALN. However, keeping an open mind, the Commission agreed to undertake a more thorough and comprehensive review of the issues raised as it will greatly affect the proper filling out of the Revised SALN Form,” it said.

The cries against the SALN came mostly from the House of Representatives, the Senate and various organizations of government employees, namely the Philippine Government Employees Association, the Local Government Mechanical Engineers Association of the Philippines, the Asian Labor Network on International and Financial Institutions, and the National Convention of Government Employees Working Council.

The House Committee on civil service and professional regulation  passed a resolution asking the CSC to restudy the legality of the new form, while a counterpart Senate committee wrote the CSC warning that the new form has a possible constitutional infirmity, illegality or impracticality.

The Senate committee, as well as the various groups, also said many government workers do not have sufficient knowledge to accomplish the form properly and have not fully comprehended the requirements in filling it out.

The new or revised SALN form requires civil servants to declare the estimated amounts of their personal and family expenses. These could include grocery, water and electricity bills, as well as allowances for mobile phone plans, clothing and travel, and even toiletries.

They also have to disclose the amount and sources of their gross income, aside from their salaries, if any. They must reveal as well the amount of income taxes they paid.

The old SALN form only required civil servants to declare their assets, consisting of real, personal and other properties; liabilities, such as loans or mortgages; business interests and financial connections, and relatives in government service.

The SALN form was revised in order to comply with the provisions of the anti-graft law, which requires the disclosure of public officials’ sources of income, amount of family expenses and income taxes paid.

The old form only conformed with the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials and employees.