Secretary Diokno kicked off DBM’s participation to the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings with a high level bilateral meeting with World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Victoria Kwakwa held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. last October 13, 2017.
Two of the World Bank’s budget-related initiatives, the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) project and the E-Government Procurement (e-Procurement) project, were brought to the fore during the high level meeting. In response, Secretary Diokno expressed his commitment to use of technology for budget and procurement processes.
“We are currently improving the user interface of our own IFMIS, the Budget and Treasury Management Systems or BTMS, and our own e-Procurement system, the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System or PhilGEPS, both for administrator and public use.”
The meeting with VP EAP Kwakwa was followed by a Technical Working Group meeting on Marawi Rehabilitaton with WB Country Director for the Philippines Mara Warwick and WB experts on post-conflict rehabilitation.
Mr. Hugh Riddell of the World Bank discussed financing opportunities for post-conflict rehabilitation scenarios. In response, Secretary Diokno reiterated his stand that “financing follows the plan” and that he is still waiting on the plan from the Task Force.
WB Country Director Mara Warwick assured the Philippine Delegation of the Bank’s dedication to provide the technical expertise needed for the realization of such a plan.
Secretary Diokno concluded the meetings thanking the World Bank group for their continued provision of technical expertise and field cooperation over the years.
Secretary Diokno also attended a high-level roundtable discussion on Identification for Development (ID4D). He joined NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia in discussing with representatives from other developing countries how use of technology can help build robust and inclusive identification systems. The roundtable discussion was prefaced by presentations from Mr. Nandan Nilekani, architect of India’s Aadhar ID system, and Ms. Carolina Trivelli, former Minister of Development and Social Inclusion of Peru.
Secretary Pernia committed that the Philippines would send a study mission to India to learn from the experiences of Aadhar and come up with a set of recommendations for the Philippines’ own national ID system.
