Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Peace and blessings to all as we welcome the new year.

There is a quiet magic in the transition from one year to the next. It invites us to look back—to reflect on what has passed, to gather lessons, and to renew our resolve for what lies ahead. For me, the holidays offered a rare gift: the space to pause, to breathe, and to reflect more deeply.

Just last week, in this column, I shared a short birthday prayer for continuity—for conscience, country, and purpose. I wrote it quietly, as a reminder to myself that public service is never only about numbers. It is about people. Always, it is about people.

When we speak of budgets, we often hear technical terms—ceilings, allocations, deficits. Yet behind every figure is a human story: a child hoping to stay in school, a teacher in a small town wishing for better classrooms and textbooks, a retiree counting on a pension to live with dignity. Stewardship (amanah) and accountability (hisbah) are not abstract concepts. They are lived every day, shaping lives in very real ways.

One of the quiet victories this year is the continued improvement in the country’s fiscal position while essential services remained uninterrupted. Even within tight fiscal space, schools stayed open, hospitals functioned, and social programs endured. It reminded me once more that discipline and empathy must always walk hand in hand in governance.

Some of the most meaningful acts of the year were, in many ways, unseen. The timely release of allocations at the start of the year enabled agencies to deliver services without delay. Pensions were honored on time. Funding for critical services was secured. For teachers in remote communities, for retirees, and for health workers, these were not mere administrative actions—they were promises kept.

Education remained at the heart of our work at the Department of Budget and Management. Supporting new teaching positions and early childhood programs was an investment not just in systems, but in children’s futures—and in the future of our nation. At the same time, funding for health services, social protection, and local development programs sought to make everyday life more stable, more secure, and more humane.

Real progress is often quiet. Strengthening public financial management required long conversations, honest reflection, and the humility to recognize where we can still do better. I am especially proud of the unveiling of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Assessment Reports, which reflect the national government’s commitment to a more inclusive and comprehensive review of our public financial management system. These assessments helped us identify gaps—and, more importantly, pointed us toward reforms that can lead to more meaningful and lasting progress.

Listening to citizens remained a constant reminder of why transparency matters. Beyond publishing budget documents and reports, we utilized spaces for genuine dialogue. Through the Civil Society Organization Desk, the Public Assistance Desk, and Dagyaw-inspired conversations, ordinary citizens, civil society groups, and local officials were given avenues to speak—and the government, the opportunity to listen.

We also had the honor of hosting the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting, which brought together over a thousand open government advocates. It became a platform for shared learning, regional collaboration, and renewed commitment to transparency. It also strengthened our collective call for the passage of a Right to Information (RTI) Law—an essential step toward institutionalizing openness and meaningful citizen participation in governance.

In May, we celebrated Open Gov Week 2025, a vibrant gathering that affirmed open government as a cornerstone of Bagong Pilipinas. This milestone was further strengthened by Presidential Proclamation No. 916, which institutionalized the annual observance of Open Gov Week every third week of May.

This year also brought me to the Dinagat Islands. Seeing homes damaged by typhoons, families struggling with disrupted livelihoods, and children studying under difficult conditions was deeply humbling. We brought relief packs, tents, and Starlink units to help reconnect schools. Standing there, I was reminded that government work is not only about policies or budgets—it is about restoring hope, nurturing resilience, and showing care where it is most needed.

Stepping away from public office has emphasized something essential: leadership is stewardship, not permanence. Positions are temporary, but the systems we strengthen, the institutions we leave better, and the culture of integrity and excellence we nurture must endure beyond any one person.

As we enter 2026, my hope is for continuity and deeper commitment—to reforms, transparency, citizen engagement, and ever more compassionate ways of serving.

As I have often said, service does not end with a title. As Citizen Mina, I remain guided by purpose and faith, believing that there will always be ways to contribute to the common good.

Beyond budget, may we carry forward the lessons of this year into the next. May our hearts be softened by humility, our spirits strengthened by empathy, and our hands always ready to serve—not for recognition, but for the greater good.

And may the coming year bring us all greater peace, prosperity, and hope.

A blessed and happy new year to everyone.