Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Technology is often reduced to systems, devices, websites, and applications. But at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), during my time as secretary, technology came to mean something far more transformative. It became a powerful tool to bring government closer to the people—faster, fairer, more transparent, and more humane.

For many years, outdated and fragmented processes slowed the delivery of services that Filipinos depend on most. When budget releases took too long, children waited for school materials, farmers missed planting seasons, and families in disaster-stricken areas endured painful delays in assistance. These experiences made one truth unmistakable: Modernizing government is essential to improving lives.

At DBM, we embraced digitalization as a reform that serves the public good. This was never about technology for its own sake. It was about using innovation to strengthen governance, reinforce accountability, widen transparency, and enable citizens to better understand—and trust—how public resources are managed.

This commitment shaped a deliberate reform agenda, beginning with the DBM Digital Transformation Roadmap (2022–2026). The roadmap provided a clear direction for modernizing systems, integrating data, and preparing the bureaucracy for the future. It anchored reform not only in technology, but also in policy—recognizing that lasting change requires institutions that allow innovation to thrive.

A landmark achievement in this journey was the passage of Republic Act No. 12009, otherwise known as the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which was signed into law on July 20, 2024. The NGPA modernizes the country’s procurement framework, replacing outdated rules with a system that is more transparent, competitive, and efficient. By institutionalizing electronic procurement and streamlining processes, the law shortens timelines, strengthens safeguards, and makes public spending more predictable and more visible to citizens. It reflects a clear reform direction: procurement that delivers value, integrity, and trust.

Alongside this, we advanced complementary reforms that support digital payments, open government, and integrated financial management. Executive Order (EO) No. 29, signed on June 1, 2023, mandated a review and re-engineering of Public Financial Management(PFM) processes. Meanwhile, EO No. 31, signed on June 20, 2023, institutionalized the Philippine Open Government Partnership to enhance collaboration with civil society for sustained social action. And, Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-01 revived the Medium-Term Information and Communication Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI) to centralize Information and Communications Technology (ICT) procurement and increase visibility and efficiency in expenditures. Together, these policies created the institutional foundation for technology to deliver not just efficiency, but confidence in how government works.

On the systems side, we pursued platforms that connect data, people, and processes across government. The Budget and Treasury Management System unified budget execution, cash management, accounting, and financial reporting into a single platform, allowing government to manage public funds with greater coherence and clarity.

We also invested in transparency-driven platforms that empower citizens. Project DIME (Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation)enables near real-time monitoring of high-value infrastructure projects through geotagging, satellite imagery, and geographic information systems. By making project information accessible, it invites citizens to take part in oversight—transforming transparency into shared accountability.

To modernize payments and disbursements, we advanced Project Bumblebee, which is designed to integrate government payment systems into one digital platform. With real-time reporting, automated receipts, and seamless remittance of taxes and obligations, it strengthens fiscal discipline while improving speed and visibility across government transactions.

Digital transformation also had to begin from within. Project MINAI (Managed Intelligent Network for Advanced Insights), an AI-enabled knowledge platform, was developed to organize DBM’s documents, legal issuances, and institutional memory. By improving access to verified information, it enhances decision-making, continuity, and efficiency—ensuring that institutional knowledge endures beyond individual tenures.

We likewise explored emerging technologies through Project Marissa, integrating blockchain with the Action Document Releasing System in a sandbox environment. By making budget release documents tamper-resistant and verifiable, blockchain adds a new layer of integrity to PFM. This is technology used with intention—to reinforce trust.

At its core, digital transformation is about improving everyday government services for Filipinos. Digital systems leave audit trails. They make decisions visible and processes easier to understand. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of effective governance. When citizens can see where their taxes go and how projects move forward, governance becomes a shared responsibility.

Beyond budget, digitalization is our path forward. It is how government becomes faster without being careless, more efficient without being distant, and more transparent without being complicated. Digital transformation is not a one-time achievement, but a continuing reform that calls for leadership, collaboration, and sustained investment.

As citizen Mina, I believe that when digital reform is guided by values, backed by data, and rooted in purpose, it becomes one of the strongest expressions of public service—and a hopeful reminder that government can earn, and sustain, the trust of its people.