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To National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan,
Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr.,
Senior officials of National Government Agencies present today,
Fellow public servants, our media partners, and all our stakeholders,
Good afternoon! Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
It is both an honor and a privilege to be part of this significant occasion—the ceremonial signing of a Joint Memorandum Circular that will strengthen the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) approach in the budget process. This is a turning point where we are not only aligning our resources, but more importantly, aligning our collective efforts to better serve the Filipino people.
Overview of the PCB Approach
In 2012, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has pioneered the PCB approach, an innovative, whole-of-government methodology that fosters collaboration among agencies to implement programs and projects.
The PCB enables government agencies to work together, ensuring consistency in program targets, beneficiaries, focus areas, implementation timelines, and resource requirements, guided by a unified Master Plan or roadmap. It also opens opportunities for partnerships with development groups and the private sector.
Ultimately, the PCB approach strengthens government coordination, ensuring that initiatives are aligned and effectively driving the country’s development goals.
In fact, over the past 12 years, we have successfully implemented several PCB projects, including the biggest inter-agency initiative on disaster response—the Risk Resiliency Program. And in 2023, we digitalized the submission of PCB proposals, aligned with the administration’s thrust to enhance bureaucratic efficiency.
However, we recognize that there is still much more to be done.
Institutionalization of the PCB Approach
That’s why, today, we take a significant step in further solidifying our commitment by institutionalizing the PCB approach through this Joint Memorandum Circular.
We are henceforth establishing the Program Convergence Budgeting Steering Committee (PCB-SC)—chaired by the brilliant NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and co-chaired by yours truly—as the oversight body that will ensure the coordinated and synergized implementation of the PCB programs.
Specifically, the Steering Committee shall identify and approve PCB proposals based on the government’s overarching plan and priorities, and monitor the implementation of existing PCB programs, among others, to further improve the planning-programming-budgeting continuum and compliance of government agencies.
By doing so, we emphasize that the institutionalization of the PCB is not merely procedural, but we seek concrete actions to break down silos, ensure efficient budget allocation, and effectively rationalize overlapping and redundant programs, activities, and projects.
By bringing together programs and initiatives from across different government units, we are creating a unified and cohesive plan to address the needs of our people.
Moving Forward
Looking ahead, we have identified 13 PCB programs for the Proposed FY 2026 National Budget, with several key programs already in motion. Among these are the PCB on Livelihood and Employment, which we started and presented to the President last year, the Water Resources Program, and the PCB on the Sustainable Development Goals, which were initiated during the FY 2025 budget preparation.
With this, let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all participating agencies and stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to bring these PCB programs to fruition. Your collaboration and dedication are what make this possible.
But wait, there’s more! Under the Proposed FY 2026 National Budget, we are adding a new PCB project, led by the DBM—the PCB on Philippine Public Financial Management (PFM) Systems! As Budget Secretary, I am deeply committed to ensuring that this initiative lives up to its full potential. Hence, we will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that all PFM systems and policies are digitalized and harmonized, guided by the Philippine PFM Reforms Roadmap 2023-2028.
Closing
Indeed, today’s signing of this Joint Memorandum Circular marks a milestone in our pursuit of more efficient, transparent, and open governance. Through the PCB approach, we are not just enhancing our ability to fulfill the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people; we are strengthening our resolve to work together as one unified government.
The institutionalization of the PCB approach becomes the cornerstone of our program development and execution. Hence, let us continue to work together, with unwavering commitment, towards our strategic vision for a Bagong Pilipinas marked by unity, progress, and good governance.
Thank you very much.
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To my dearest colleagues and fellow public servants here at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and our DBM family from our regional offices joining us online, good morning.
Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
A few days ago, we received the good news that our budget deficit for 2024 has gone down to 5.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 6.2 percent in 2023, thanks to our better-than-expected revenue and spending performance. And I am proud to report that the 2024 National Government’s spending reached Php 5.925 trillion or 22.41 percent of GDP! This improved performance is evidence that we are truly on track to achieving our economic targets.
So, allow me to recognize the very hard-working men and women of DBM, especially from the Budget Preparation and Execution (BPE) Group, headed by Usec. Rolando U. Toledo and ASec. Rhea Dela Vega, for contributing to this success!
This is just one result of our increased efforts to optimize our agencies’ budget utilization rates and our commitment to maintaining strong disbursement performance.
Indeed, the DBM is a beacon of integrity, for we fulfill our mandate no matter the circumstances. However, our work does not end with crafting and disbursing the National Budget; that is only one part of the equation. Remember, we are the Department of Budget AND Management, and it is high time we strengthened the management aspect of our mandate.
Hence, we are reintroducing the Enhanced Agency Performance Reviews (EAPR)—a mechanism designed to strengthen accountability, verify goal attainment, and enhance Public Expenditure Management.
The EAPR is our way of reflecting on our purpose and our promises to our citizens. It is asking ourselves: At the end of the day, did we really use our public funds to improve the life of every Filipino? While this question is answerable by yes or no, arriving at the real answer is more complex than that.
To help us navigate this significant task, we have issued Circular Letter No. 2025-2, outlining the guidelines for conducting the AEPR for 2024 and beyond. This incorporates key findings from Focus Group Discussions on the effectiveness and challenges of the previous review process.
And I am proud to share that several recommendations have already been integrated into the EAPR. Notably, some of the most critical additions are anchored in the core principles of effective management: empowerment, collaboration, strategic direction, and motivation.
We have introduced the Self-Assessed Financial and Physical Performance (SAFPP) Tool, which enables agencies to independently identify bottlenecks in program implementation and develop catch-up plans to address them. By empowering agencies with this tool, we hope to promote a sense of accountability and encourage proactive problem-solving within their teams.
But this does not mean they have to do this alone. We will continue to support them through Performance Dialogues. Through this collaborative process, we can achieve more effective program execution and improved public service delivery.
Next, the adoption of the Agency Performance Reviews or the APR Scorecard will facilitate a more objective and standardized evaluation of performance across departments and agencies. It will also provide a clear strategic direction, ensuring that goals are aligned, progress is measured consistently, and data-driven insights guide improvements.
Finally, we know that the EAPR process can be demanding, but we undertake it because we understand its importance in upholding good governance. These efforts will not go unnoticed, as we will continue implementing our Annual Recognition System to motivate the top-performing institutions. Through this, we are not only rewarding hard work but also fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
These are just some of the enhancements to our APR starting this year, and I am excited for you to learn more about the other salient features of the Circular Letter with our expert colleagues from the BPE Group.
We hope to be able to use the APR not just to assess agencies but to truly improve performance for the nation to sooner meet its “A” credit rating and ultimately achieve our goal of being an upper-middle-income nation with single-digit poverty levels.
As we gear up for the Agency Performance Reviews, may this forum serve as a valuable platform for us to actively participate, share meaningful insights, and appreciate the dedication behind every milestone of every department and agency that have sworn to serve the people.
Let us keep in mind that our goal is not just to rate their outputs but also celebrate achievements, identify gaps, and inspire them to renew their commitment to Bagong Pilipinas—where every peso is spent to genuinely uplift the lives of the Filipino people.
Maraming salamat po! Mabuhay ang BPEG at DBM! Mabuhay ang mga ahensya at kawani ng gobyerno! Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
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To Ambassador Celia Anna “Cookie” Feria;
Heads and Representatives of Department of Foreign Affairs, Government Procurement Policy Board, Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Support Services, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Tourism Promotions Board, Procurement Service – DBM, and Office of the Director-General for Operations;
My esteemed colleagues;
A pleasant afternoon to all of us. Welcome to DBM!
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
First, allow me to thank you for attending our first Committee Meeting in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026. Your presence here today speaks volumes of your commitment to accelerating economic, social, and cultural development across the ASEAN and promoting peace and stability within the region and beyond.
The Philippines as chair of the ASEAN Summit will emphasize our role as a founding member of one of the most successful inter-governmental organizations in the world, for which we must step up to the challenge of being a leader among nations.
Last March 2024, the President issued Administrative Order No. 17, institutionalizing the creation of a National Organizing Council (NOC) for this high-level gathering. We have our work cut out for us—to organize, manage, supervise, and fund all major and ancillary programs, activities, and projects related to the country’s hosting of ASEAN 2026.
As we know, the ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body of the bloc, comprising the Heads of State or Government of Member States. The biannual ASEAN Summit Meetings will provide a platform to deliberate and decide on important matters of interest to the association and our region in general.
Taking the helm of such a significant event is no small feat. In fact, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin even described the preparations for it as a "gargantuan task." But the Philippines has consistently proven that no challenge is too great when we come together, bound by a shared vision and purpose.
I am happy to share the example of our recent hosting of the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting just two weeks ago. We are grateful for the opportunity to lead the conference to advance our agenda of promoting transparent, participatory, inclusive, and accountable governance in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
We successfully engaged almost 800 delegates, conducted around 60 sessions comprising side events, plenaries, and breakouts, and mobilized over 60 organizations to pull off the most dynamic, fruitful, and memorable OGP Regional Summit!
At this summit, our New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), signed into law by PBBM, was also recognized as a prime example of game-changing reforms in the region, highlighting our steadfast commitment to good governance.
Its most salient features include open contracting, beneficial ownership information declaration, digitalization, inclusive procurement, and participatory processes. And just last Monday, February 10, we published the NGPA’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), ensuring that this law is not only passed but truly implemented.
I mention this to emphasize that for ASEAN 2026, you can leverage the law’s key features to fulfill our mandate effectively: ensuring budget approval and timely release, addressing procurement requirements for all activities, and coordinating with all committees to meet their financial needs. And you might want to hold one side meeting on Open Government Partnership.
The road ahead is demanding, but we have the vision, the resources, and the collective resolve to make ASEAN 2026 a resounding success.
Let us ensure that every peso serves its purpose, every procurement process is transparent, and every decision upholds the highest standards of integrity and accountability as we ensure that ASEAN 2026 will be the best and most memorable ASEAN Summit ever.
May this meeting be both productive and instrumental to achieving our goals. I call on each of you to bring your expertise, dedication, and leadership to the table as we work together to strengthen our international relations and enhance regional cooperation.
Maraming salamat po, and now let’s all get to work!
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
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OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting Breakout Session
February 7, 2025 | 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Grand Hyatt Manila
Distinguished leaders and members of the government and civil society from Asia-Pacific and beyond;
Fellow advocates and champions of open governance and the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda:
Good morning! Magandang umaga po.
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
First, allow me to express my gratitude to the UN Women for co-organizing this breakout session with the Department of Budget and Management at this very opportune time: the OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting hosted for the first time by the Philippines.
We are honored to be joined by local and international experts, each bringing valuable experience in governance, research, international cooperation, and community engagement. Thank you for heeding the call to share your best practices and unique perspectives as we address the challenges hindering the advancement of the WPS Agenda.
While 13 countries in our region have adopted National Action Plans on WPS, UN Women reports that there are still critical gaps between the commitments and the actual implementation of WPS initiatives, threatening to undermine our progress toward a peaceful and gender-responsive region.
We are also at a pivotal moment where conflict extends beyond war and manifests in our daily lives in the form of non-traditional security issues such as climate change, cybersecurity, and violent extremism. These challenges are less visible, but they pose significant threats to peace and security, with women disproportionately bearing the impact.
But while we acknowledge the gravity of these challenges, we must not let them distract and stop us from achieving our targets. After all, our region has already made great strides toward building an open, inclusive, and peaceful society.
According to the most recent Global Gender Gap Report, Eastern Asia and the Pacific ranks fourth globally, with an overall gender parity score of 69.2 percent. New Zealand holds the fourth spot, followed by OGP member countries such as Australia, which ranks 24th, and the Philippines, which ranks 25th.
We are also proud that in the report's educational subindex, which captures the gap between women's and men's current access to education, four OGP Asia-Pacific member countries rank first with a perfect score of 100 percent! These are Maldives, Mongolia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. This is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that open governance translates into open opportunities for all, leaving no one behind.
In the Philippines, we introduced “The Women’s Budget,” or the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget, as early as 1995, mandating all departments and agencies up to the Local Government Units to allocate a minimum of five (5) percent of their annual budgets for gender programs. This was further institutionalized through landmark laws and frameworks such as the Magna Carta of Women and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Plan.
Beyond the GAD budget, we are also championing the WPS Agenda through programs that uplift the living conditions of women, including economic empowerment, education, and climate crisis protection.
We are also implementing programs that strengthen peacebuilding initiatives, reconstruction, and development in conflict-affected areas, especially in BARMM, such as the Normalization Program and the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program.
And we don’t stop there. Aside from funding and implementing these initiatives, we are creating spaces where the WPS Agenda is discussed and prioritized.
In fact, we recently hosted the first-ever ministerial-level, International Conference on the WPS Agenda in October 2024. As the first female Muslim Budget Minister of our country, I am especially grateful for these opportunities to bring to light the transformative power of providing spaces for women in decision-making tables and high-level discussions.
This brings us to where we are today, the OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting—engaging in meaningful discourse and identifying actionable steps to harness open governance in advancing women's participation in peace and security processes.
May this session empower all of us to lead the charge for the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda within our communities and across borders. Together, let us translate our shared vision of a gender-responsive, peaceful, and open Asia-Pacific region into a reality. Insha Allah.
Thank you very much.
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
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References:
https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024/
https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/focus-areas/peace-and-security/national-action-plans
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OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting High-Level Roundtable
February 6, 2025 | 12:00 PM
Grand Hyatt Manila
To the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Chief of Global Programs, Mr. Paul Maassen, members of the Philippine Cabinet, distinguished delegates, civil society leaders, and fellow champions and advocates of open government and good governance:
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Thank you for attending the OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting 2025!
This ministerial roundtable is a space for us to share concrete commitments and strengthen our resolve to build a lasting legacy and a better future for our peoples and for our community of nations. Our participation in this high-level gathering is most impactful as we need your decisive, action-oriented, and steadfast leadership in upholding our pledges to our peoples.
We need this kind of strong leadership now, more than ever, as we navigate complex global and regional transitions: geopolitical shifts, evolving trade landscapes, economic uncertainties, rapid technological advancements, and escalating environmental challenges. While these transitions cast shadows of instability, they also shed light on the growing demand for open and accountable governance.
This is the driving force behind the Open Gov Challenge, to which our region—I am happy to note—has responded positively. For instance, 1Mongolia has amended its law to enable the development of an online platform that publishes political party financial data, providing public oversight and increasing citizens’ trust in the government.
2Armenia has established regulations for public officials’ acceptance of gifts, and developed a digital gift declaration that the citizens can access and monitor.
We are also proud that two of our local government units (LGUs) have responded to the challenge. Baguio City institutionalized a People’s Council to recognize and formalize Civil Society Organizations’ (CSOs) significant role in local decision-making processes.
And the Municipality of Larena in Siquijor has committed to establishing a Procurement Oversight Team (POT) through an Executive Order aligned with our New Government Procurement Act, aimed at improving efficiency and transparency in procurement processes.
These are just a few of the commitments that contribute to truly achieving, slowly but surely, good governance for our people. But we also know that we need more ambitious undertakings pledged through the Open Gov Challenge if we want to make governments work for all—not just for the powerful.
So today, as one OGP community, let us take this opportunity to assess our current priorities, identify enabling conditions for these commitments to deliver tangible results, and build genuine partnerships to ensure the success of our reforms.
As we present our interventions at this ministerial roundtable, let us honor their trust and ensure that the promises we make today translate into tangible actions that produce meaningful change in the lives of our constituents. Let us remember that our people are counting on us—WE MUST NOT LET THEM DOWN.
Thank you very much and we look forward to discussing our current ambitions and priorities, the enabling conditions to raise these ambitions, and building partnerships and collaborations.
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
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Speeches
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