BEYOND BUDGET
Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Last week was especially significant for us in government, as we observed National Government Employees' Week.
For me, it was a celebration of unity, understanding, and collaborative efforts among the government workforce, which make the cornerstone of a brighter and more prosperous future for the Philippines.
I agree with President Bongbong Marcos (PBBM) when he stated in his State of the Nation Address that our government has a large pool of highly skilled and dedicated employees. He remarked on their patriotism and commitment to the call to service, which gives great hope and optimism.
This may have inspired the President's commitment to working despite suffering from Covid-19 and undergoing the mandatory five-day isolation period last week, attending meetings via teleconference, reviewing documents, and even signing two landmark laws that demonstrate the country's commitment and readiness to accelerate development and embrace the digital economy — the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines and the Internet Transactions Act of 2023!
Thus, during the National Convention of Government Workers organized by the Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA), where I spoke as a guest speaker, I emphasized that our civil servants play a crucial role in building a stronger Philippines — each contributing immensely to running the country and keeping the economy afloat.
You see, public service is a difficult profession that requires passion, sacrifice, dedication, and an unwavering spirit. I know since I've been in government service for almost two decades, beginning as a research assistant and rising through the ranks to become the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
At the DBM, especially during budget season, it is common for us to work until the early hours of the morning, only to wake up and return to the office few hours later because there is still much to accomplish, requiring patience and, most importantly, fortitude. There can be no setbacks, delays, or blunders because we are responsible for the national budget, which entails precision. I am confident that the situation is similar in other government entities.
Hardworking public servants
To support our government workers who go the extra mile and extend help to our kababayans 24/7, the administration remains steadfast in ensuring that substantial funds are allocated for protecting and upholding their welfare.
In fact, on Aug. 1, 2023, the DBM, Civil Service Commission, and the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations signed the Joint Circular on the Rules and Regulations of the Grant of Night Shift Differential Pay to Government Employees to ensure that the guidelines on the night differential are widely disseminated and to guarantee its uniform policy interpretation and effective and efficient implementation. Through RA 11701, those with working hours falling between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. of the following day will be fittingly compensated for their time and efforts, as a way of appreciating our modern-day heroes who greatly contribute to the reactivation of our economy.
Further, the fourth and last tranche of the mandated salary hikes took effect last January. The salary increase and night differential aim to help cushion the daily challenges of living and raising a family.
We have also allocated around ₱48 million under the 2023 General Appropriations Act to support a study on the government compensation structure, for the compensation of all civilian personnel to be competitive with those in the private sector. We are also reviewing the rates of the existing benefits being provided to government employees, to assess if there is a need to adjust them in the future.
Public Financial Management
As PBBM highlighted in his SONA, it is up to the administration to provide good leadership and guidance to our dedicated personnel.
Thus, to ensure the expertise of Public Financial Management (PFM) professionals, under the instructions of the DBM-led PFM Committee, we have been offering the PFM Competency Program Course (PFMCP). First conducted in 2015 with only 71 participants through face-to-face mode, we saw a rise in the number of participants to a cumulative total of 2,056 in 2019. In 2018, the PFMCP was transferred to select state universities and colleges through the twinning arrangement. However, the pandemic forced a halt in PFMCP delivery.
To be more adaptable and agile, the PFMCP was digitalized, with classes shifting online. In 2021, the PFMCP started with 375 participants, and in 2022, it saw 335 participants. In 2023, the PFMCP went fully digital with the introduction of the Full Asynchronous Foundation Track and Digital Specialty Tracks, training 504 professionals. Hence for the past three years, a total of 1,204 participants have undergone the program.
Meanwhile, the PFMCP for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao began in 2022, fostering collaboration between the DBM and our counterpart in the Region. Since then, the program has trained a total of 241 PFM practitioners. We have also expanded the PFMCP to include local government units this year, with 500 participants in Cabanatuan, 600 in Iloilo City, and 309 in Dagupan. We hope to add more classes in more areas to empower PFM professionals countrywide in the years to come.
Beyond budget, as we celebrated National Government Employees' Week, the PBBM administration has expressed its resolute commitment to safeguarding the health and welfare of public servants even after the pandemic. In turn, as PBBM expressed in his message to the PGEA during the convention, we hope our fellow government workers will continue advocating for socioeconomic programs and strengthening partnerships so that we may contribute to a vibrant bureaucracy and build a Bagong Pilipinas characterized by inclusivity, equitability, and resilience.
(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the current Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)