To the Public Financial Management (PFM) Committee, representatives from our resource institutions, development partners—of course, ADB who has been helping us [because] without them, I don’t think we’d have this very important document, our PFM Reforms Roadmap—colleagues, guests, and members of the press and academe, a pleasant day to everyone. 

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

First, I would like to thank again the Asian Development Bank for hosting the launch of the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028. This event is an excellent opportunity to delve into the specific strategies for harmonizing PFM policies across agencies and digitalizing our PFM processes to improve public service delivery.

Just a few weeks ago, during the Ceremonial Endorsement of the PFM Reforms Roadmap, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. himself emphasized that “it is one thing to create policies, but another to ensure that they are properly implemented with real, tangible results that will be felt by ordinary Filipinos.”  

And this principle has guided us throughout the process of reviewing, re-engineering, and devising this strategic roadmap that we have today.  

With the recent passing of House Bill 10800, or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) in the House of Representatives, we, as public financial managers, face an increasingly significant challenge: upholding fiscal discipline, ensuring efficient allocation and use of our nation's resources, and maintaining operational efficiency.  

The good news is that the PFM Reforms Roadmap will guide us in doing precisely this. For one, it will expedite the adoption of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) across all government agencies to ensure seamless and efficient government transactions.  

Using the Application Programming Interface, we will establish “data highways” that will enable the linkage and data exchange between existing separate systems to a core central system—the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS). The BTMS, which we also hope to launch this quarter, will then facilitate real-time online accounting, monitoring, and oversight of obligations and disbursements, which are vital for making informed decisions about managing our government resources.  

Moreover, the PFM Reforms Roadmap outlines crucial outcomes, interventions, and activities within eleven strategic focus areas, leaving no areas for improvement unturned. And to ensure that all these are accounted for, we will mobilize Task Teams for each strategic area. I trust that each agency lead and member will take appropriate and proactive action to drive these initiatives forward.  

To name a few of our reforms, we will harmonize public investment management policies and guidelines and enhance information technology (IT) systems for planning and budgeting. 

We will also sustain Citizen Participatory Audit for public expenditures and scale up our efforts in conducting performance audits to strengthen internal controls for public expenditure and revenue accounting.  

Further, we will work towards empowering the PFM workforce across National Government Agencies, Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations, and Local Government Units by updating the current PFM Competency Program, developing e-learning materials and tutorials, and establishing a PFM institute. 

Ultimately, this roadmap will enable us to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability by putting digital transformation at the forefront of our reform agenda, which is key in achieving our goal of having an open government that delivers more efficient and more responsive public services to the Filipino people—true to the spirit of the Open Government Partnership. 

With this roadmap, I am certain that we will sooner achieve our goal of an “A” credit rating as it will help solidify our country’s economic gains and further augment our overall credibility and stability. 

I am also happy to share that this month, we are already in the second phase of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Assessment (PEFA)++ and Disaster Resilient and Responsive PFM Assessments. PEFA will thoroughly assess the state and health of our PFM and its responsiveness to gender, climate, and disaster risk reduction. It will further inform our PFM reforms initiatives and the mid-term review of the PFM Reforms Roadmap, ensuring that we are on the right track towards revolutionizing our financial management system.  

Indeed, we have made significant progress, but we should also recognize that there is always room to do better and further elevate our efforts.  

And so, I sincerely hope that today’s panel discussion will be productive and successful, centered on our collective goal of enhancing our PFM system and processes.  

I also look forward to hearing our partners' commitments to implementing game-changing reforms towards the equitable, prudent, transparent, and accountable use of public funds. Together, let us ensure that our plans yield concrete and positive outcomes—towards a Bagong Pilipinas where Filipinos’ needs are delivered, and aspirations are fulfilled.  

With this, I invite everyone to watch this video about the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028 explaining how we intend to make our vision of a digitalized and effective PFM system a reality in fulfillment of our Agenda for Prosperity.  

Thank you very much.  

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.  

END 

To Governor Sharee Ann Tan of the Province of Samar; 

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez; 

Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez; 

Region Eight Association of Local Budget Officers (REALBO) Inc. President Adelwisa L. Acebuche; 

DBM Eastern Visayas Director Imelda C. Laceras and Assistant Director Aleli N. Hernandez; 

Our PFM practitioners and participants from the Eastern Visayas Region;  

Maupay na adlaw! Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  

I am glad to be with all of you today, although virtually, for the Public Financial Management Competency Program or PFMCP for Local Government Units (LGUs). 

As you may know, our ultimate goal here in PFMCP is to promote good governance, financial accountability, and effective resource management in your respective localities. That is why our top-caliber subject matter experts walked you through the seven foundation courses.  

I am also excited that you are now learning more about the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which was signed into law last July 20. 

Unang araw ko pa lang po bilang Budget Secretary, top priority ko na po itong NGPA dahil isa ito sa mga susi sa pagsugpo sa korapsyon sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng digitalized, efficient, mas mabilis, at mas madaling maintidihan na procurement system. 

With the NGPA, pwedeng mag-add to cart na lang! We will have an e-marketplace where agencies can procure common-use supplies and equipment directly from competent and reputable suppliers.  

At transparent ito! Because we will also open the procurement process to citizen participation and allow the public to observe in procurement proceedings—true to the spirit of the Philippine Open Government Partnership!  

In line with this, I am also happy to share that we are number one not only in Southeast Asia but in the whole of Asia in terms of budget transparency under the PBBM administration. This is based on the 2023 Open Budget Survey. 

We have also ramped up our digital transformation, resulting in the full adoption of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), with the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS) as the centralized database for all government financial operations. 

We will also revive Project DIME or the Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation which will use modern technologies such as satellites, drones, and geotagging to monitor and evaluate the status, progress, and activities of the government’s big-ticket projects.  

Last September 17, we officially endorsed to the President the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024 to 2028, a comprehensive blueprint that will harmonize PFM policies across agencies and fully digitalize our PFM processes. This is guided by eleven (11) strategic focus areas, including capacity building. 

Most importantly, the proposed Php 6.352 trillion National Budget for 2025 has already been approved by the House of Representatives on September 25, 2024 and transmitted to the Senate for further reading and scrutiny.  

Under this budget, some Php 1.184 trillion1 has been allocated to our Local Government Units. Of this amount, Php 245.9 billion2 is allotted to Region VIII. On top of this, the Eastern Visayas Region will also receive Php some 61.9 billion3 from the LGUs’ FY 2025 National Tax Allotment which increased by 18.8 percent from this year.  

So I hope that all of your budgets will be fully utilized para naman mas makita pa po natin ang kagandahan ng Bagong Pilipinas dito sa Eastern Visayas at sa bawat LGU.  

We also want all our LGUs to help us develop a green economy. Hence, we will support local governments in building open spaces and infrastructure that promote active mobility through the Green Green Green Program with Php 1.0 billion.  

Dahil ‘yan ang Bagong Pilipinas—may gobyernong tunay na nagtatrabaho para sa mas maginhawang buhay ng bawat Pilipino.  

Mabuhay po ang Tacloban at ang buong Eastern Visayas! Mabuhay ang Pilipino at ang Bagong Pilipinas!  

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.  

END 

Magandang araw po, mga kababayan, mga kapatid!

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Maraming salamat po sa paglalaan ninyo ng panahon upang magkita tayo.

I am so happy to be here in New York with you this morning.

As you may know, nandito po kami para sa 79th United Nations General Assembly.

I am happy to share with you we have had very successful side engagements.

Yesterday, with Secretary Manalo and Ambassador Lagdameo, we met with the UNGA President Philemon Yang.

The day before, I represented the Philippines in the Open Government Partnership or OGP Leaders Roundtable at the Ford Foundation.

Here I talked about the anti-corruption and integrity measures of the PBBM Administration.

If I may briefly share with you what I presented to them dahil tuwang tuwa naman ang mga global leaders sa ating anti-corruption measures:

First, meron na po tayong New Government Procurement Act. This is one of the biggest anti-corruption measures we have taken and a reform I am proud to have initiated. How does it curb corruption?

First, it gives all stakeholders access to procurement information at all stages of the procurement process.

Second, it has a public participation mechanism, so observers from the private sector and civil society will be invited to participate in procurement proceedings.

Third, it has measures for holding public officials accountable.

Second, we will curb corruption through digitalization.

Just this month, we presented our Public Financial Management or PFM Roadmap to PBBM, which will fast-track the digitalization PFM processes. We will implement the Integrated Financial Management Information System or IFMIS which will ensure the timely and efficient management of public funds across all national government agencies and instrumentalities.

Aside from this, may digital monitoring system na din tayo para makikita natin kung ang mga projects ay ginagawa nga at hindi mga ghost project. Ito po ang Project DIME o ang Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation. Through satellites, drones, and geotagging, we will compare fund utilization with actual project completion status.

Third, we will maintain budget transparency. Advocacy ko po ‘yan. And I am happy to share with you that we are now Number 1 in budget transparency not just in Southeast Asia but in the whole of Asia based on the 2023 Open Budget Survey, thanks to DBM’s timely and comprehensive publication of all key budget documents.

These are just some of the anti-corruption measures we are taking and I am making sure these will be implemented because I am also an incoming member of the international Open Government Partnership Steering Committee. And as part of this global panel, assignment ko po ‘yan na siguruhin na ang ating anti-corruption at integrity measures ay ating tinutupad.

Ano naman ang ating ginagawa para sa ating mga OFW?

First, para sa elections. Another OGP commitment that we are keen on pursuing is building trust in the electoral system and mitigating voter disenfranchisement. So we are institutionalizing the role of accredited citizens’ arms in ensuring that the voters’ lists in all electoral exercises are complete and accurate. We also aim to increase the number of our registered voters overseas by at least two million by 2028 to ensure that qualified Filipinos, who will be abroad during the overseas voting period—kasama po kayo dito—may still exercise their right to suffrage for the Philippine National Elections.

As of date, the Office of the Overseas Voting estimates 1.5 million overseas voters for the 2025 National and Local Elections. And under the proposed FY 2025 National Budget, Php 111.91 million is allotted for Overseas Absentee Voting and Continuing Registration.

Second, syempre hindi natin kinakalimutan ang ating mga OFW—ang ating mga bayani—sa ating National Budget, which amounts to Php 6.352 trillion for FY 2025.

We would like to thank Congress for approving the General Appropriations Bill.

As such, we are giving the Department of Foreign Affairs a higher allocation of Php 8.6 billion under the FY 2025 National Budget to ensure the unhampered provision of consular services including issuance of passports, visas, and other consular documents. This includes a higher allocation of Php 4.29 billion for ePassport.

Assistance to Nationals is also allotted Php 1.0 billion to assist all distressed Overseas Filipinos in places without resident DMW Migrant Worker Offices, especially in repatriation, welfare and medical assistance, seminars, conferences, and other events.

Meanwhile, some Php 200 million has been appropriated for Legal Assistance Funds to provide legal services to migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in distress.

We also have the Commission on Filipinos Overseas or CFO which develops and implements programs to promote your interests and well-being.

The Ugnayan Series empowers Filipino communities and encourages them to participate in entrepreneurial and investment activities.

The CFO also continues to forge partnerships and agreements with post-arrival service providers, counterpart officers from the host countries, Filipino communities, migrant-serving institutions, and Philippine embassies and consulates.

The Philippine Schools Overseas are established to address the educational needs of children of Filipinos overseas, and facilitate their reintegration into our educational system upon their return.

BaLinkBayan provides options for overseas Filipinos to partner with national and local governments in starting a business, engaging in donation and volunteer works, and accessing online government services.

CFO’s Sa Iyong Sulok, also known as Itanong Mo Kay SIS!, is a free web and mobile application-based guidance and counseling service that offers consultation, coaching, and counseling from licensed counselors and life coaches.

These are just a few of the programs and services intended for you, our dear kababayans, and I hope that you are able to access all these and more.

Sinisikap po natin na tunay na mapaganda ang ating Bagong Pilipinas at na maramdaman ng bawat isa sa inyo ang kasaganahan. ‘Yan po ang ating Agenda for Prosperity.

Mabuhay po kayo! Mabuhay po ang Pilipinas, lalo na ang Bagong Pilipinas!

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

END

To Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano;

Ms. Marian Orayani of the Association of Metro Manila Budget Officers, Inc.;

DBM-NCR Director Ruby Muro and Assistant Director Joseph Cicero Sy;

Our PFM practitioners and participants from the National Capital Region;

Magandang araw po sa ating lahat! Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

I am glad to be with all of you today, although virtually, for the last day of our Public Financial Management Competency Program (PFMCP).

As you may know, our ultimate goal in PFMCP is to promote good governance, financial accountability, and effective resource management in your respective localities. That is why, in the past few days, our top-caliber subject matter experts walked you through the seven foundation courses.

I am also excited that you are now learning more about the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), which was just signed into law last July 20.

Unang araw ko pa lang po bilang Budget Secretary, top priority ko na po itong NGPA dahil isa ito sa mga susi sa pagsugpo sa korapsyon sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng digitalized, efficient, mas mabilis, at mas madaling maintidihan na procurement system.

Isipin n’yo, with the NGPA, pwedeng mag-add to cart na lang! We will establish an e-marketplace where agencies can procure common-use supplies and equipment directly from competent and reputable suppliers.

At transparent din ito! Because we will also open the procurement process to citizen participation and allow the public to observe in procurement proceedings—true to the spirit of the Philippine Open Government Partnership!

In line with our commitment to open government, I am also happy to share that we are number one not only in Southeast Asia but in the whole of Asia in budget transparency.

Alongside our procurement and OGP wins, we have also ramped up our digital transformation, resulting in the full adoption of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), with the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS) as the centralized database for all government financial operations.

Just last week, we officially endorsed to the President the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024 to 2028, a comprehensive blueprint that will harmonize PFM policies across agencies and fully digitalize our PFM processes.

The PFM Roadmap is guided by eleven (11) strategic focus areas, including capacity building.

More importantly, we already submitted the proposed Php 6.352 trillion National Budget for FY 2025 to Congress, which is now undergoing deliberations.

Under this budget, no less than some Php 1.184 trillion^[1] has been allocated to our Local Government Units. Of this amount, Php 857.9 billion^[2] is allotted for the National Capital Region. On top of this, NCR will also receive some Php 62.3 billion^[3] from the LGUs’ FY 2025 National Tax Allotment, higher by 18.7 percent from this year.

We also want all our LGUs to help us develop a green economy. Hence, we will support local governments in building open spaces and infrastructure that promote active mobility through the Green Green Green Program with Php 1.0 billion.

So I hope that all of your budgets will be fully utilized para naman mas makita pa po natin ang kagandahan ng Bagong Pilipinas dito sa NCR at sa bawat LGU.

Dahil ‘yan ang Bagong Pilipinas—may gobyernong tunay na nagtatrabaho para sa mas maginhawang buhay ng bawat Pilipino.

Mabuhay po ang Taguig City at ang National Capital Region! Mabuhay ang Pilipino at ang Bagong Pilipinas!

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

END

^[1] FY 2025 BESF Table B7

^[2] FY 2025 BESF Table B6c

^[3] Local Budget Memorandum No. 90 s. 2024