The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the Philippines is making significant strides in enhancing digital transformation and promoting open governance. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has highlighted the country’s top position in budget transparency across Asia, according to the 2023 Open Budget Survey. Under her leadership, the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) continues to push the OGPinas! campaign, encouraging more local government units to join the OGP Local Program, which aims to increase transparency and combat corruption at the local level. This year, four local government units, including Larena, Siquijor, and the cities of Baguio and Tagbilaran, have joined the initiative, marking a significant step forward in the campaign for open governance.
The DBM is also set to host the OGP Asian and the Pacific Regional Meeting in early 2025, which will bring together leaders and policymakers to discuss and share best practices in open government initiatives. In terms of financial modernization, the DBM launched the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS) as part of the Public Financial Management Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028. This system aims to streamline financial processes and promote transparency through real-time online accounting and monitoring. Additionally, a partnership with Free-Balance, a Canadian PFM software provider, was established to further enhance government transparency and efficiency.
To modernize procurement, the DBM’s Procurement Service introduced the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) eMarketplace, which significantly reduces the time required for procurement processes. This initiative is supported by the recent signing of Republic Act 12009 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which aims to standardize and digitalize government procurement processes.
The DBM has also developed a dashboard for monitoring the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) releases, aiding in the effective implementation of local priority programs and projects. Furthermore, Secretary Pangandaman has expressed ambitions to position the Philippines as a digital hub in Asia, with significant investments planned for ICT-related programs in the 2025 National Expenditure Program. Ongoing projects like Project Bumblebee and Project DIME are part of these efforts, focusing on integrating digital payments and utilizing advanced technologies for monitoring and evaluation.