Department of Budget and Management Secretary (DBM) Amenah F. Pangandaman highlighted today, October 5, 2022, the importance of sound public financial management (PFM) to meet the country’s development objectives and goal of reducing poverty.
Pangandaman made the statement during the start of the PFM learning sessions for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Committee on Finance, Budget, and Management Parliament Members held in Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City.
“It is my personal dream to see a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao that is thriving and a Mindanao that shines as the land of promise,” Sec. Pangandaman, a daughter of Mindanao from the royal houses of Maranao, said as she underscored the importance of collaborating with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in formulating and implementing dynamic fiscal policy towards the upliftment of the lives of the Bangsamoro.
“I believe that the rest of the Philippines and BARMM can grow together as two governments working in support of each other towards a common goal—to provide better living conditions for every Filipino,” Sec. Pangandaman added.
The Budget Chief stressed that the Public Financial Management Competency Program’s (PFMCP) objective is aligned with the national government’s goal of ensuring effective and efficient delivery of public services by enhancing the technical skills and competencies of our public financial managers.
“The PFMCP aims to enhance the technical skills and competencies of our public financial managers on planning, directing, and controlling financial resources towards the effective and efficient delivery of public services,” Sec. Pangandaman said.
“This time, the goal of our PFMCP is to enhance the current public financial management practices in the region while undergoing transition,” she noted.
Pangandaman further said, “We hope we can equip you, our PFM practitioners from the Parliament here today, with the knowledge and skills that will enable you to develop and implement effective laws and decisions for the Bangsamoro people.”
The event was attended by top-caliber subject matter experts who demonstrated PFM fundamentals relative to local revenue policies and procedures, such as the principles of local taxation and fiscal sustainability, budget legislation, local government fiscal management, staffing and organization, and the budget process including the Cash Budgeting System.
“A sound PFM is fundamental to meeting development objectives and reducing poverty, which are the desired outcomes of both the Bangsamoro and the national government,” Sec. Pangandaman said.
Among those who were present in the event were the newly appointed Bangsamoro Parliament members including the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian Balindong, JICA Senior Representative Mr. Ebisawa Yo and representative Ms. Yukiko Sano, and other officials of the DBM.
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