MANILA, (PIA) -- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman over the weekend emphasized the significance of active citizenship in achieving the "Agenda for Prosperity."
Addressing a gathering of over 600 Rotarians held at the District Conference of the Rotary International District 3800 on March 22, 2024 in Mandaluyong City, Secretary Pangandaman stressed the importance of embodying the Rotarian motto of "Service Above Self" to provide quality public services to all Filipinos and implement transformative reforms throughout the budget cycle.
"After two decades in public service, I can attest that citizen participation, along with initiatives on transparency, accountability, and digitalization, enhances the government's ability to deliver public services with tangible, transformative impacts," Secretary Mina said.
(Contributed photo)
To institutionalize open government values in policies and programs across government agencies, the Administration has established the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) through Executive Order No. 31, s. 2023.
The PH-OGP has developed an ambitious and citizen-empowered National Action Plan (NAP) and expanded open governance through the OGPinas! National advocacy campaign, engaging nearly a thousand Filipinos across the country, including in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
(Contributed photo)
"Our work in OGP is unique and crucial. We prioritize building a high-trust society by promoting transparency, participatory, and accountability measures at all bureaucratic levels and in collaboration with civil society. With the active involvement of citizens, including Rotarians, I am confident we can make initiatives as strong and inclusive as possible," added the Budget Secretary.
Secretary Mina also announced that the DBM, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), will implement the Support and Assistance Fund to Participatory (SAFP) Budgeting with a P1 billion allocation under the FY 2024 National Budget, focusing on active citizen participation.
"The uniqueness of this program lies in our collaboration with local civil society organizations to identify lagging municipalities and provide them with safely managed and resilient water supply and sanitation services," Secretary Mina shared, inviting Rotarians to participate.
In addition to participatory initiatives, the DBM will promote sound fiscal management and bureaucratic efficiency through the adoption of a Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms Roadmap and a Digital Budget Management Roadmap, covering strategies and goals from 2024 to 2028.
Rotary International District 3800 comprises Rotarians from the Resilient District, including the cities of Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and the Province of Rizal. (PIA-NCR)
