BEYOND BUDGET

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

First, allow me to wish my fellow government workers a meaningful Civil Service Month celebration this September.

I laud the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for focusing on sustainable management during this month-long celebration, consistent with its aim to achieve a future-ready civil service as manifested in its 10-year theme, “Transforming Public Service in the next decade: Honing agile and future-ready servant-heroes.”

I also concur with CSC that, in line with Ambisyon Natin 2040, which envisions a "Philippines that enjoys a stable and comfortable life that is protected and empowered by a clean, efficient, and fair government," developing a pool of competent and well-equipped government workers—individuals capable of balancing organizational performance with its impacts on the economy, environment, and future generations—is necessary.

Civil Service modernization

In time for the celebration, I am thrilled to share that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved on Aug. 28, 2024, the Philippine Civil Service Modernization (PCSM) Project, which aims to digitally overhaul the human resource (HR) management processes across government agencies. This marks a significant step toward a more efficient and responsive public service, and I am excited about its profound impact on our public sector.
As NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan explained, there are nearly two million government workers, and "If the system lacks efficiency and government agencies are not interconnected, we cannot optimize our service delivery."

First proposed in 2020, the CSC had to forego its initial project proposal to comply with the information required by the Investment Coordination Committee. After its diligent efforts to adhere to the requirements, the project has finally been approved—indeed, a welcome development! Thus, I commend the CSC, under the leadership of Chairperson Karlo Nograles, for prioritizing this game-changing reform.

This will be implemented in the entire bureaucracy in phases—with 226 government agencies, of which 39 are pilot agencies, starting in 2025 to 2029, and with plans to expand to 1,187 government agencies over the next decade. Specifically, it entails streamlining and simplifying the HR policy framework and introducing technology to automate processes and enhance efficiency, building capacity at the individual and agency levels. This automation and digitalization will be done through an integrated, government-wide, centralized HR Management Information System (HRMIS) while enabling the consolidation of payroll management.

I am convinced that the project will achieve its desired outcomes, including the faster processing of HR transactions; increased accuracy in payroll processing; streamlined recruitment and onboarding; enhanced employee self-service; better compliance with HR policies; reduced paper usage; enhanced security and confidentiality; and better data management for policy development.

We, at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), are enthusiastic to be a key partner in this transformation, taking on the task of defining the detailed requirements, features, and functionalities of the payroll module of the HRMIS. And as co-chair of the project steering committee, we are more than ready to provide the necessary support to ensure its success.

DBM’s digital transformation

In line with the efforts to digitalize government processes, the DBM launched a Digital Transformation Roadmap in 2023, with a dual transformation feature: (1) improving current systems used in the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), and (2) future-proofing the entire bureaucracy.

The full adoption of the IFMIS, approved by the President through Executive Order No. 29, s. 2023, aims to create a unified tool for all fiscal-related transactions—facilitating faster data release, preventing red tape, reducing government expenses on manual transactions, and eliminating corruption-related activities.

A core part of IFMIS is the Budget and Treasury Management System, a centralized database covering all government financial operations, from purchase to payment, with real-time transaction monitoring, facilitating financial reports submitted to oversight agencies to ensure that every centavo is accounted for. Hence, I am optimistic that this will not only improve operational efficiency but foster a culture of accountability within government agencies.

Further, DBM has implemented an online system for releasing Notice of Cash Allocations, or cash authorities issued to cover the cash requirements of government agencies. This system, done through the DBM’s Action Document Releasing System, is expected to save the government approximately P33 million annually.

Alongside these and with the recent enactment of the New Government Procurement Act, the Roadmap also includes, among others, the modernization of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (mPhilGEPS)—featuring an eMarketplace for the procurement of common-use supplies and equipment—to enhance transparency and efficiency in procurement processes, and reduce opportunities for corruption.

Beyond budget, the Civil Service Month reminds us of the vital role our servant-heroes play as enablers of society. In recognition of their indispensable contribution to nation-building, rest assured that the PBBM administration is continuously instituting reforms, such as the PCSM Project and the DBM's digital transformation efforts, to ensure that they have the tools and resources required to effectively deliver their mandate, and efficiently respond to the evolving needs of the people in our Bagong Pilipinas.

To my fellow workers in government, thank you for your committed service. Again, happy Civil Service Month!

(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)