DBM Press Release
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon emphasized that “listening is also public service” as government and civil society leaders strengthened their partnership on the country’s fiscal priorities, reaffirming the Marcos administration’s commitment to more open, transparent, and participatory governance.
Speaking during the Fiscal Priorities and Economic Dialogue: A DBCC-Civil Society Outlook on 15 July 2026 at the DBM Central Office, Acting Secretary De Leon underscored that meaningful reforms and sound fiscal policies are achieved through continuous dialogue and genuine collaboration between government and the people it serves.
“At the Department of Budget and Management, we believe that listening is also public service,” Acting Secretary De Leon said.
“Every meaningful reform begins with one simple act—the willingness to listen,” Sec. De Leon emphasized.
Organized by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), the dialogue brought together representatives from government, civil society organizations, the business community, policy research institutions, and the academe to exchange views on the country’s medium-term macroeconomic outlook, fiscal program, and key budget priorities.
The initiative builds on a series of government-civil society engagements launched under the PH-OGP, reflecting the DBM’s continuing efforts to institutionalize citizen participation in fiscal governance and strengthen public policymaking through evidence-based dialogue.
Addressing participants, Acting Secretary De Leon emphasized that government institutions become stronger when policies are informed not only by technical expertise and data, but also by the experiences, perspectives, and constructive feedback of citizens and stakeholders.
“We cannot build better governance alone. We need you—not only as our partners and collaborators—but also as constructive critics who continuously challenge us to improve,” he said.
Acting Secretary De Leon also highlighted that meaningful engagement between government and stakeholders ultimately translates into better public policies and improved outcomes for the Filipino people.
“Every conversation we share today is an investment in better governance. And every better decision we make together brings us one step closer to the kind of government our people deserve,” he added.
The dialogue gathered representatives from the Action for Economic Reforms, Association of Foundations, Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, IBON Foundation, Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance–De La Salle University, Makati Business Club, People’s Budget Coalition, Philippine Public Policy Network, Social Watch, University of the Philippines Los Baños Department of Economics, and the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, among other partner organizations.
Meanwhile, DBM Undersecretary and Senior Supervising Official of the PH-OGP Program Management Office (PMO) Wilford Will Wong assured participants that the insights and recommendations raised during the dialogue would directly contribute to improving fiscal policies and government decision-making.
_“Every insight will be carefully documented and consolidated to actively show our next steps. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that your inputs refine our fiscal policies, making them more responsive, inclusive, and evidence-based,”_ Undersecretary Wong said.
During the program, DBM Assistant Secretary and DBCC Executive Technical Board Chairperson Romeo Matthew T. Balanquit presented the latest DBCC-approved medium-term macroeconomic assumptions and fiscal program, providing participants with an overview of the country’s economic outlook and fiscal priorities. This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by DBM Assistant Secretary Diana C. Camacho-Mercado, where representatives from the DBCC and participating organizations exchanged insights on key fiscal and economic issues.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment among government agencies and participating organizations to sustain regular engagements that strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in fiscal governance.
Organized by the PH-OGP Program Management Office (PMO) in collaboration with the DBM Communications and Public Relations Group (CPRG) and the Budget Policy and Strategy Group (BPSG), the dialogue reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that fiscal policies remain transparent, inclusive, evidence-based, and responsive to the evolving needs of the Filipino people.
NEWS MATERIAL
Department of Budget and Management
Ika-16 ng Hulyo 2026
DBM chief: ‘Listening is also public service’; pamahalaan at civil society, pinalalim ang ugnayan sa fiscal priorities
Binigyang-diin ni Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon na “listening is also public service” o ang pakikinig ay paraan din ng pagseserbisyo sa publiko habang pinalalalim ng pamahalaan at mga civil society organization ang pagtutulungan para sa fiscal priorities ng bansa bilang bahagi ng patuloy na pagsusulong ng administrasyong Marcos sa mas bukas, transparent, at inklusibong pamamahala.
Sa kanyang pangunguna sa Fiscal Priorities and Economic Dialogue: A DBCC-Civil Society Outlook na ginanap noong ika-15 Hulyo 2026 sa DBM Central Office, sinabi ni Acting Secretary De Leon na ang mahahalagang reporma at matatag na fiscal policies ay nabubuo sa pamamagitan ng tuloy-tuloy na pag-uusap at tunay na pagtutulungan ng pamahalaan at ng mamamayan na pinagsisilbihan nito.
“At the Department of Budget and Management, we believe that listening is also public service,” ayon kay Acting Secretary De Leon.
“Every meaningful reform begins with one simple act—the willingness to listen,” pagbibigay-diin ni Sec. De Leon.
Sa programang inorganisa ng Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) at Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), nagsama-sama sa dayalogo ang mga kinatawan mula sa pamahalaan, civil society organizations, business sector, mga policy research institution, at akademya upang talakayin ang medium-term macroeconomic outlook ng bansa, fiscal program, at mga pangunahing prayoridad sa badyet.
Bahagi ang inisyatibong ito ng serye ng mga pakikipag-dayalogo ng pamahalaan at civil society sa ilalim ng PH-OGP. Ipinapakita nito ang patuloy na pagsisikap ng DBM na gawing mas regular ang pakikilahok ng mamamayan sa fiscal governance at mapalakas ang pagbuo ng mga polisiya sa pamamagitan ng mga talakayang nakabatay sa ebidensya.
Sa kanyang mensahe, sinabi ni Acting Secretary De Leon na mas nagiging matatag ang mga institusyon ng pamahalaan kapag ang mga polisiya ay hindi lamang nakabatay sa teknikal na kaalaman at datos, kundi pati na rin sa mga karanasan, pananaw, at mga mungkahi ng mamamayan at iba pang stakeholder.
“We cannot build better governance alone. We need you—not only as our partners and collaborators—but also as constructive critics who continuously challenge us to improve,” ayon kay Acting Secretary De Leon.
Ayon pa kay Acting Secretary De Leon, ang bukas na pakikipag-ugnayan ng pamahalaan sa iba't ibang stakeholder ay nagreresulta sa mas mahusay na mga polisiya at mas magandang resulta para sa mga Pilipino.
“Every conversation we share today is an investment in better governance. And every better decision we make together brings us one step closer to the kind of government our people deserve,” dagdag ng Kalihim.
Dumalo sa dayalogo ang mga kinatawan ng Action for Economic Reforms, Association of Foundations, Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, IBON Foundation, Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance–De La Salle University, Makati Business Club, People's Budget Coalition, Philippine Public Policy Network, Social Watch, University of the Philippines Los Baños Department of Economics, at University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance, kasama ang iba pang partner organizations.
Samantala, tiniyak ni DBM Undersecretary at Senior Supervising Official ng PH-OGP Program Management Office (PMO) Wilford Will Wong na ang mga pananaw at rekomendasyong ibinahagi sa dayalogo ay direktang makatutulong sa pagpapahusay ng mga fiscal policies at sa pagdedesisyon ng pamahalaan.
“Every insight will be carefully documented and consolidated to actively show our next steps. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that your inputs refine our fiscal policies, making them more responsive, inclusive, and evidence-based,” sabi ni Undersecretary Wong.
Sa programa, ibinahagi ni DBM Assistant Secretary at DBCC Executive Technical Board Chairperson Romeo Matthew T. Balanquit ang pinakabagong medium-term macroeconomic assumptions at fiscal program na inaprubahan ng DBCC upang mabigyan ang mga kalahok ng pangkalahatang ideya sa economic outlook at fiscal priorities ng bansa. Sinundan ito ng isang panel discussion na pinangasiwaan ni DBM Assistant Secretary Diana C. Camacho-Mercado, kung saan nagpalitan ng pananaw ang mga kinatawan ng DBCC at mga kalahok na organisasyon tungkol sa mahahalagang usaping pang-ekonomiya at pananalapi.
Nagtapos ang dayalogo sa iisang layunin ng civil society at ng pamahalaan na ipagpatuloy ang regular na pakikipag-ugnayan upang higit pang mapalakas ang transparency, accountability, at pakikilahok ng mamamayan sa fiscal governance.
Sa pangunguna ng PH-OGP Program Management Office (PMO), katuwang ang DBM Communications and Public Relations Group (CPRG) at Budget Policy and Strategy Group (BPSG), muling pinagtibay ng dayalogo ang pangako ng pamahalaan na tiyaking ang fiscal policies ay mananatiling transparent, inklusibo, nakabatay sa ebidensya, at tumutugon sa nagbabagong pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino.
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