GOVPH

OPENING STATEMENT Commission on Appointments Hearing September 28, 2022     Mr. Chair, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri; Mr. Vice Chair, Representative Ramon Guico Jr.; Representative Luis Raymond Villafuerte; and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and the rest of the members of this honorable Commission, good morning. I am honored to appear before the members of the Commission on Appointments, for the opportunity to humbly submit myself to the process of confirmation of my appointment as Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). This is an especially meaningful moment for me as I started my public service career in these halls. I have great respect and admiration for the senate as an institution, having spent more than ten years in the upper house: first as senate researcher then as chief-of-staff of the late Senator Edgardo Angara, whom the Senate fondly called SEJA. I consider those years formative to my now almost two decades of service in government. I learned the intricacies of the budget process especially when he was Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and then later when I worked for Senator Loren Legarda when she also served as Chairman of the same...

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P15.2 Billion to the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) under the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP). This is in line with the Marcos administration's commitment to uphold the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and ensure the efficient delivery of services and assistance to OFWs. DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman noted that the administration steadfastly recognizes the contribution of our OFWs to our economy. “Our OFWs are our modern day heroes. We honor their sacrifices, as they work hard to uplift the lives of their families and to enhance our country’s economy through their remittances," Secretary Pangandaman said. The Budget Secretary added that the DBM is in full support of the President’s advocacy for the betterment of our OFWs' condition. "We know and feel the difficulties our kababayans face by being far from their loved ones and we continue to ensure that they will be afforded with the appropriate support they need,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman added. Out of the aforementioned amount, Php 3.5 billion is earmarked for the DMW’s Office of the Secretary, of which, 77% or Php 2.7...

The Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) in New York was attended by more than a hundred key stakeholders, including business leaders and government officials who presented economy and industry updates, legislative reforms, targets, and the fiscal framework that will catapult the Philippines to become an upper middle-income country. The first panel, joined by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Bangko Sentral Governor Felipe Medalla, and Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel De Ayala, zoomed in on economic performance and outlook. A highlight of their discussion was the vast opportunity for public-private partnerships to thrive in the country. The Ayala Corporation Chairman affirmed the economic managers’ statements on structural reforms that will foster business growth. He stated that it is “up to the private sector” to maximize the favorable environment. “This government has been very supportive of the private sector and public participation. The president is very keen to get the private sector involved and we are delighted with that. So, there’s a chance for private capital to...