In a bold declaration of intent, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has committed to elevating the Philippines to the pinnacle of global budget transparency and oversight. Speaking at a ceremony in Manila, Pangandaman highlighted the Marcos administration’s strides in promoting open governance, which have already positioned the Philippines as the leading nation in Asia for budget transparency and sixth globally in budget oversight according to the 2023 Open Budget Survey.
The event, held at the Department of Budget and Management’s central office, also saw the launch of the 2024 annual accomplishment report, a legacy book, and an inspirational gallery under the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP). Pangandaman, who chairs the PH-OGP, emphasized the government’s efforts to become a global leader in open governance, detailing initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and public participation.
The DBM’s role in ensuring the efficient use of the national budget was underscored by Pangandaman, who stressed the importance of making budget documents accessible for public scrutiny. She also celebrated the recent enactment of Republic Act 12009, the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), as a significant step towards modernizing procurement and combating corruption. The NGPA introduces open contracting and encourages civil society participation to ensure the prudent use of government resources.
Further, the DBM’s outreach efforts were highlighted with the launch of OGPinas!, a campaign that reached nearly 4,000 stakeholders across nine regions, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The event also served as a precursor to the upcoming OGP Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in 2025, which the Philippines will host. A new mobile app was introduced to facilitate engagement with the regional summit’s activities.