MANILA -- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reiterated DBM’s commitment to digitalize government processes, records, and databases through e-governance as part of the administration’s agenda to promote bureaucratic efficiency.
Pangandaman made the statement during the four-day Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines (AGAP) Inc.’s Annual National Convention Seminar which would end tomorrow, October 22, 2022.
Secretary Pangandaman underscored that Php 12.47 billion of the national budget was proposed to be provided for our ICT and digitalization programs and projects. This includes the improvement of revenue collection through digitalization, with the Department of Finance receiving an allocation of PhP3.56 billion.
“In support of the Administration’s thrust for a lean, efficient, and responsive government workforce–the FY 2023 Proposed National Budget will facilitate the transformation and digitalization of the government to streamline the bureaucracy,” Sec. Pangandaman said.
The DBM Secretary added, “The DICT was allocated PhP 4.72 billion for its ICT Systems and Infostructure Development, Management, and Advisory Program, which includes funding for the implementation of the National Government Data Center Infrastructure and the National Government Portal to connect government departments and improve its accessibility.”
Secretary Pangandaman likewise emphasized the value of digitalizing our public financial management systems to strengthen the integrity of our systems, diminish human discretion, expedite inter-agency coordination, and ensure the efficient delivery of public services.
Pangandaman, in particular, cited that the DBM is working towards the enactment of the Budget Modernization Bill to cover the development and implementation of the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS) and the gradual implementation of the cash budgeting system (CBS).
Role of Accounting
Secretary Pangandaman, in the same event, highlighted the critical role of accounting in DBM’s interrelated public financial management functions, along with budgeting, auditing, cash management, procurement, revenue generation, and public reporting on public sector financial operations.
“While the economic managers and their respective institutions are hard at work towards this end, this would not be possible without your help—our dear accountants and government financial managers, and the whole of AGAP Inc. who help carry out our pursuit of bureaucratic efficiency and sound fiscal management,” the Secretary stressed.
Pangandaman commended accountants and government financial managers saying that their “insights, analyses, perspectives and advice” empower government leaders to make “important decisions on the use of public resources to ultimately serve the public’s interest.”
Other attendees of the event include Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong; DBM Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canda, AGAP National President; Ms. Analene M. Bautista, Convention Chair, among others. (DBM)
