BEYOND BUDGET

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Last July 22, I was privileged to witness President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), which underscores the administration’s achievements over the past years and its plans for a harmonious and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas. Again, I congratulate the President for delivering a powerful, direct, authentic, and moving speech.

I am thrilled to share the various successes PBBM highlighted in his speech that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other government agencies collaborated on.

Toward economic development, PBBM emphasized that despite obstacles challenging our country’s growth, “we stayed the course,” demonstrating healthy post-pandemic resilience similar to strong economies in the region. As such, we remain on track to achieving our medium-term economic targets and our Agenda for Prosperity.

Meanwhile, I agree that our mid-term infrastructure development is sustained, strategic, and on schedule, benefiting sectors like agriculture, education, health, energy, housing, transport, and information technology. To exemplify, PBBM mentioned the budget provided to upgrade 367 bridges and almost 1,600 kilometers of road along the country's longest thoroughfare, the Maharlika Highway, as well as to improve our irrigation systems nationwide.

I concur with PBBM that our aggressive infrastructure development, business-friendly policies, investment and export promotions, foreign visits, and economic missions are generating not just jobs but quality and competitive jobs.

Further, the President stated that our open government, streamlining, and transparency goals, in concert with the legal system, complement Commission on Audit’s audit mechanism. At the DBM, we are working hard to create a culture of transparency and good governance to combat corruption in government. As a result, we ranked first in budget transparency in Asia in the 2023 Open Budget Survey, scoring 75, surpassing our Philippine Development Plan target of 71. Under PBBM’s leadership, we became one of the first nations to institutionalize open government through Executive Order (EO) No. 31, and we are steadfast in cementing our position as a global leader in budget transparency, oversight, and public participation as our country joins the Open Government Partnership International Steering Committee.

 
Indeed, we are making headway. As PBBM emphasized, the New Government Procurement Act, which I have advocated since the first day of my tenure as DBM Secretary, will transform government procurement through modern, technology-driven, innovative, more streamlined, and efficient processes, at par with global best practices. I believe it is the biggest anti-graft and corruption law passed in recent history. Hence, I join the President in thanking Congress for decisively amending the decades-old law.

To ensure inclusivity, PBBM also reported as one of our wins the organization and activation of all seven inter-governmental mechanisms of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) by the Intergovernmental Relations Body, which I co-chair with BARMM Minister Mohagher Iqbal. These will ensure effective and constant consultation between the Bangsamoro and the National Governments in governance. As with the BARMM, we are also on a mission to empower our local government units for peace and economic development.

To promote the professional development and career advancement of our public school teachers, PBBM announced that we have allocated funds to implement the expanded career progression system. Just last July 26, we signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations of EO 174, s. 2022, which lays out two major career tracks for teachers — teaching and school administration — that will provide them ample career growth opportunities. With this, as PBBM related, no teacher will retire as Teacher I. I believe it sends a powerful message to our dear teachers that their contributions are valued and appreciated, and that their needs are heard and prioritized.

Moreover, the President pleasantly surprised fellow government workers by announcing pieces of good news that demonstrated the administration's recognition of their hard work. First is the much-awaited salary increase, which we, at the DBM, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) have been working on. It is scheduled for release in four tranches starting this year. Another great news is the medical allowance, effective next year, to help defray medical expenses and ensure civil servants’ health.

Lastly, as PBBM highlighted, we at the DBM, in cooperation with government agencies, have crafted our proposed Fiscal Year 2025 National Budget “with utmost care, diligence, and meticulous attention,” guided by strong fiscal discipline. Like the President, we are eager to work with our colleagues in the Legislature for its usual timely approval and to reiterate his wish that “it be adhered to as closely as possible.” I also echo his call for government agencies to ensure that every centavo allocated is judiciously spent on urgent priorities and socially impactful programs.

 
Beyond budget, as PBBM emphasized in his SONA, through a whole-of-government approach, his administration will further improve governance, boost the economy, and vigorously pursue efforts to uplift the lives of our kababayans. On the part of the DBM, inspired by his dynamic leadership and in response to his SONA directives, we renew our commitment to implementing key transformational reforms to realize upper middle-income status and bring poverty down to single-digit levels in our Bagong Pilipinas, where development is felt by every Filipino.