MANILA -- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman vows to promote inclusive development in Mindanao and educate more Filipinos on financial inclusivity.

As the only Muslim member in the cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, Secretary Pangandaman once again reiterated that she will champion development programs for the Bangsamoro Autnomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Mindanao in her capacity as Budget Secretary.

In her recent interview with SMNI, Secretary Pangandaman said that the DBM is extending assistance to the Bangsamoro government in its transition process.

"The DBM plays a major role in helping them [BARMM] in their budgetary process because we want them to have their parang own government so we're helping them in whatever way we can in terms of capacity building," Secretary Pangandaman said.

To recall, the Budget Secretary attended the launch of the Public Financial Management Competency Program or PFMCP for BARMM Middle Managers in Davao in September 2022.

She likewise spoke at the Public Financial Management Learning Session for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Committee on Finance, Budget, and Management Parliament Members last month.

Since taking office, Secretary Pangandaman has identified modernization of the budget system as one of her major goals and planned reforms in the DBM. Aside from achieving great strides towards bureaucratic efficiency and transparency, the Budget Secretary likewise seeks to implement programs and initiatives that will educate more people about financial inclusivity that will ultimately result in uplifting the lives of the Filipino people.

"Marami pa po sa atin ang hindi financially inclusive. That's why during the time of [BSP] Governor Diokno, we were promoting that [financial inclusivity] … na sana most of the people in our society ay magkaroon at least ng bank account or digital accounts," Secretary Pangandaman said. (DBM)