The budget call forum, held today, 27 January 2025 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, signals the start of the preparatory stage for the drafting of the National Expenditure Program (NEP), or the President’s Budget, was for the succeeding year.

“The budget call and preparation is now officially open. So I hope, you will, on your own departments and agencies, find time to sit down with your technical staff and make sure po na once you propose [your budgets], especially those in tier 2, make sure it has corresponding submissions and requirements," Sec. Mina reminded cabinet officials at the start of the forum.

 

The National Budget Call contains the parameters and procedures that guide agencies in preparing their proposed budgets. It provides the prescribed forms and technical instructions in accomplishing the forms relative to the formulation of budget proposals and it includes the schedule of activities that will be undertaken leading to the submission of the budget documents.

 

Meanwhile, Sec. Mina also noted that the DBM will implement the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) approach in the preparation of the proposed national budget for 2026. PCB aims to focus government resources on key programs and projects which shall be coordinated in a holistic approach across departments and agencies working towards the same goals. The adoption of the PCB's integrated approach in identifying key needs and priorities is considered evidence of a well-planned budget proposal.

 

"We are also relaunching our PCB program. It's quite an addition because it will also be part of our budget process. Dati po, hindi 'yan inuupuan, nagsu-submit lang and then inililista -- para lang po s'yang wishlist. But ngayon po, it will be part of the budget process," the Budget Secretary emphasized.

 

Speaking at the budget call forum, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan likewise emphasized the importance of adopting the PCB approach as a key strategy in promoting the effective allocation of fiscal resources.

 

"About 5,000 PAPs (programs, activities, projects) are registered each year in the NEDA PIP (Public Investment Program) system. Given the sheer number of PAPs that are prepared by different agencies, as well as coordination and information constraints that all agencies confront, it is inevitable that there will be overlaps, duplication, or gaps, even as each agency aligns their proposals with the PDP (Philippine Development Plan) objectives. The PCB approach seeks to mitigate this," Sec. Balisacan said.

 

Prior to the Budget Call Forum with cabinet secretaries, the DBM also led a separate conference on budget execution covering the FY 2025 national budget.

 

Participants in the said forum, held on 24 January 2024, were members of the cabinet, led by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, and other officials of government agencies. The activity was aimed at deepening their understanding of the budget process, including key terminologies about budget, to guide the public more effectively and responsibly.

 

"On January 20, 2025, DBM issued National Budget Circular no. 595, which outlines the framework for implementing our Php 6.326 trillion national budget under Republic ACT (RA) No. 12116, along with Continuing Appropriations under RA 11975 and Automatic Appropriations. Secretary Pangandaman and the entire DBM family have exerted tireless efforts in developing and disseminating these crucial policies across the bureaucracy. This budget represents not just numbers on paper, but our collective vision for a prosperous Philippines," Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who delivered the opening remarks, said.

 

For her part, Sec. Pangandaman discussed the guiding principles of the budget execution process, which she mentioned, are essential to achieving transparency, accountability, and sustainable public service. These principles include fiscal discipline, allocative efficiency or spending on the right priorities, and operational efficiency.

 

Meanwhile, other DBM officials were likewise present to discuss important topics, including DBM Undersecretary Janet Abuel, who discussed the FY 2025 President's Veto Message; Assistant Secretary Mary Anne Dela Vega, who explained the Guidelines on Budget Execution, and PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong, who talked about the eMarketplace.