Honorable Senator Sonny Angara, Chairperson of the Committee on Finance; Honorable President Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Minority Floor Leader Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and honorable members of the Senate, good morning.

On behalf of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), I thank you for giving us this opportunity to present DBM’s proposed budget for the Fiscal Year 2023.

Mr. Chairperson, before we begin the presentation, allow me to say a few introductory words. In the same way that I am advocating prudent management of fiscal resources in the entire bureaucracy, I will also ensure the efficient and sound utilization of government funds and resources within the DBM.

The DBM and its attached agencies will lead by example and this is reflected in our Php 1,816.87 million budget proposal, which shall cover the operating requirements of the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) and the Government Procurement Policy Board – Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO).

This proposed budget is underpinned by my priorities as DBM Secretary—bureaucratic efficiency, budget reform and modernization, and green public procurement.

With this budget proposal, the DBM commits to deliver two Organizational Outcomes: First, “Allocative efficiency and operational effectiveness enhanced,” and second, “Budget Improved through sustained fiscal discipline and fiscal openness.”

Organizational Outcome 1 or Allocative efficiency and operational effectiveness enhanced corners the biggest share with P474.14M, equivalent to 87.49% of the proposed budget for OSEC’s Program for Operations. It covers the bulk of the DBM functions–which shall be explained further in the course of our presentation.

While Organizational Outcome 2 or Budget improved through sustained fiscal discipline and fiscal openness will be provided with P28.14M, or 5.19%.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson and members of this Committee. At this point, I request you to recognize Director Dante B. De Chavez of DBM’s Financial Service.