In a significant move towards improving governance, the Philippine government has announced plans to institutionalize the digitalization, monitoring, and evaluation of Public Financial Management (PFM) processes. This initiative, aimed at enhancing budget transparency, was revealed by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman during a press conference at the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in Taguig City. The event saw participation from key figures including OGP Chief Executive Paul Maassen, PH-OGP Co-Chairperson Aurora Chavez, and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.
Pangandaman emphasized the government’s commitment to showing the impact of public funds allocated for education, social protection, health, infrastructure, and climate initiatives. The PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024-2029, launched in September 2024, outlines 11 strategic areas to overhaul public financial management, including planning and budgeting, cash management, and digital PFM among others.
The roadmap also focuses on expediting the development of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and the Budget Treasury Management System (BTMS) to streamline government transactions. Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo highlighted the Philippines’ leadership in fiscal transparency, referencing the country’s top ranking in Asia and sixth globally in the 2023 Open Budget Survey.
Toledo also stressed the importance of learning from international best practices to further enhance budget transparency. The Philippines, a founding member of the OGP alongside seven other nations, hosts the 2025 OGP-APRM and is part of a network that includes 75 countries, 106 local governments, and various civil society and multilateral partners.
Paul Maassen, OGP’s ad interim chief executive, underscored the need for institutional, legal, and civic engagement to sustain OGP reforms. He cited the Philippines’ Executive Order No. 31 as a model for institutionalizing reforms. Maassen also advocated for ongoing dialogue and collaboration among public officials, civil society, and the private sector to safeguard these initiatives.
Aurora Chavez, co-chairperson of the Philippine OGP, emphasized the importance of localizing national OGP commitments to foster locally-led development, highlighting the grassroots impact of these initiatives.