A pearl buried inside a tightly-shut shell is practically worthless. Government information is a pearl, meant to be shared with the public in order to maximize its inherent value.

The Transparency Seal, depicted by a pearl shining out of an open shell, is a symbol of a policy shift towards openness in access to government information. On the one hand, it hopes to inspire Filipinos in the civil service to be more open to citizen engagement; on the other, to invite the Filipino citizenry to exercise their right to participate in governance.

This initiative is envisioned as a step in the right direction towards solidifying the position of the Philippines as the Pearl of the Orient – a shining example for democratic virtue in the region.

New Guidelines on Transparency Seal: Administrative Order No. 17, Series of 2015

Source: Section 7.0, National Budget Circular No. 542, August 29, 2012.

  • Status of Implementation and Program/Project Evaluation
    1. KALAHI-CIDSS
    2. Pantawid Pamilya
    3. Sustainable Livelihood Program
  • Freedom of Information
    1. DSWD FOI Program
    2. Updated DSWD FOI Manual 2020