BEYOND BUDGET

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

I had the privilege of attending the World Governments Summit (WGS) last Feb. 11 to 13 in Dubai. This is an annual gathering of world leaders for dialogue among government officials, thought leaders, policymakers, and private sector leaders to discuss future trends, issues, and opportunities facing humanity. 

The WGS was founded in 2013 and this year, under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments,’ it boasts of record international participation — the largest in its history — with over 30 heads of state and government, over 80 international and regional organizations, 140 government delegations, and more than 6,000 participants, including leading global experts.

I was proud that our very own First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos delivered not just one but two keynote messages wherein she discussed her advocacies in education, health, and the environment. 

First, she spoke of the gratifying experience of seeing her law students gain confidence. “For the past 28 years, I have been a law professor ... I made it a point to purposely teach the same class for four years. … It’s always gratifying to see how education can empower the youth and how it can prepare them for the challenges in the future.” The First Lady then concluded: “If it means something to us then we should put time and effort into what we believe in — whether it be small or big endeavors, put in the time and effort and I’m sure it will make a difference.”

Next, she spoke of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s LAB for ALL medical assistance program. “Every week we select a city and bring laboratory services to the communities via mobile clinics. … This has grown into a caravan that offers business mentorship, legal services, scholarships, seedings for farmers, and much more. So eventually our LAB for ALL projects became a one-stop-shop for all sorts of services. And I can’t even begin to tell you how heartwarming it is when you see the grateful smiles of beneficiaries who come to our program.”

Finally, she spoke of the Pasig River Rehabilitation program. “Surrounding (Manila) is this bustling 27-kilometer river that has had a cultural and economic significance to our people. Unfortunately, no one really took care of the river and its environs. ... Two years ago, my husband formed an interagency committee whereby various government agencies would meet with the sole purpose of finding ways and means to bring our river back to life. Slowly but surely, we were able to construct an esplanade where everyone from all walks of life could bike, stroll, and break bread along the river. And now, thanks to the assistance provided by the United Arab Emirates, especially Clean Rivers, which is an Erth Zayed initiative, we will be able to clean our river and, hopefully, make it a showcase much like the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok or the Seine in Paris.”

The Clean Rivers assistance is a significant one. As a non-profit organization tackling plastic pollution, it committed up to $20 million toward initiatives aimed at preventing waste leakage in the Pasig River. In a statement, Clean Rivers said, “This effort will be driven by circular economy-led solutions and community empowerment. In close collaboration with the Philippines government and local organizations, we are working to restore this vital waterway that has sustained Manila’s communities for generations.”

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Pasig River clean-up was undertaken between the Government of the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed by Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and by Erth Zayed Philanthropies Director-General of the Clean Rivers Foundation Abdullah Al Qubaisi, on the sidelines of the WGS.

The agreement also promotes the preservation of the river ecosystem, enhancing economic opportunities and advancing tourism activities, and expanding the partnership between the Philippines and the UAE to areas that will prioritize the preservation and enhancement of the environment towards securing a sustainable future.

Aside from this, we likewise witnessed the signing of three judicial treaties: Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi signed the Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons; the Treaty on Extradition; and the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

For our part, I am proud to share that I, along with UAE Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange Abdullah Nasser Lootah, have signed an MOU between the Philippines and the UAE to improve government practices and strengthen institutional capabilities and skills. We will be creating Technical Working Groups to study how we can further improve our government systems — from capacity building and public financial management to developing more programs for reform. As Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver remarked, this agreement highlights the “focus of the WGS gathering itself which is on shaping the future of governments to become better version of themselves.”

Beyond budget, we come home from the WGS inspired and motivated to work harder to shape our Agenda for Prosperity toward impacting not just this administration but future governments and generations as well.

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