To the faculty members of Mindanao State University (MSU)-Maguindanao and all our champions, advocates, and aspiring experts on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, good morning!
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
I am Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, proudly from Lanao del Sur. As a daughter of Mindanao, I am happy to share with you that I am only the second woman to hold the position of Budget Secretary and now the only Filipina Muslim in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. I am also in our country’s Economic Team, in fact the only woman there and Chairperson of the Development Budget Coordination Committee.
While I take pride in these distinctions, I look forward to a future where women in leadership roles are the standard rather than the exception, especially in the field of WPS. The United Nations Security Council institutionalized this agenda in 2000, and 25 years later, we still need more allies and experts, particularly women and individuals who genuinely consider women's voices, in shaping a more equal and peaceful world.
Meeting all of you today, although virtually, gives me hope that we are heading in the right direction. I learned that 72% of you are women, 78% are government employees, and there is also a remarkable representation of men and civil society leaders here. The diversity of your class speaks volumes about how the WPS Agenda is not solely a women’s issue or a government concern, but a matter that involves everyone.
Outline of Lecture
So today, my lecture will revolve around the importance of multisectoral interventions and adopting a needs-based approach to promoting women's full and equal participation in decision-making to prevent conflict and build peace, based on my experiences as a WPS champion.
There are a multitude of things we could discuss today, but I want us to concentrate on these three main points: First, the role of DBM in implementing the National Action Plan on WPS; second, the impact of women’s voices on the WPS Agenda; and lastly, the key strategies for mainstreaming the WPS Agenda. As we explore these topics, I hope you find inspiration not only to implement the best practices I will share but also to come up with ideas on how to surpass our achievements.
I. The Role of DBM in Implementing the NAPWPS
As you know, our mandate at the DBM is to promote the sound, efficient, and effective management and utilization of government resources. It is also our responsibility to ensure that these resources contribute to our nation’s development, of which the WPS is a vital component.
Thus, the DBM has been involved in implementing the NAPWPS since its first iteration in 2010-2016 before becoming an executive member of the National Steering Committee on WPS (NSCWPS) in its third and fourth iterations, in 2017-2022 and 2023-2033, respectively.
Established through Executive Order 865, series of 2010, the NSCWPS serves as the implementing institutional infrastructure of the NAP. Our inclusion in the steering committee allows us to help address the gaps in the financing and localization of WPS initiatives.
We do this by upholding gender-responsive budgeting—an institutionally recognized principle anchored on several legal frameworks.
As early as 1995, the DBM has introduced “The Women’s Budget,” or the Gender and Development Budget, in our National Budget, which mandates all departments and agencies to allocate at least or a minimum of five (5) percent of the budget for gender programs, projects, and activities through GAD Planning and Budgeting (GPB).
The Magna Carta of Women Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9710) further institutionalized the GPB and even identified it as an essential mechanism to protect women during disasters, calamities, and crises, incorporate their welfare in peace agendas, and recognize their crucial role in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
To strengthen each agency's compliance with the GAD Budget, we involved the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)—for the first time—in our series of budget fora on the preparation of the FY 2026 National Budget for National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Government-Owned or –Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) last January. The said forum served as a platform to guide our key stakeholders in crafting a gender-responsive budget, ensuring that the “Women’s Budget” is utilized more effectively, and driving meaningful progress toward women's empowerment.
However, GAD mainstreaming does not end in planning, budgeting, and implementation; it also requires monitoring and evaluation. Hence, Section 32 of the General Provisions of the General Appropriations Act mandates the submission of GAD Plans and Accomplishment Reports to the DBM and PCW to ensure accountability, identify areas for improvement, and strengthen the effectiveness of gender-responsive policies and programs. In line with this provision, we are currently exploring ways to strengthen our monitoring mechanisms through the development of a GAD Accountability Dashboard.
At the national level, the FY 2025 National Budget funds programs that holistically support women—such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for economic support with Php 64.2 billion; the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) with Php 924 million; the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Program with Php 500 million for entrepreneurship and financial empowerment; and the People’s Survival Fund with Php 1.0 billion for climate protection.
Meanwhile, we also sustain budgetary support for peace and development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This year, a total of Php 96.6 billion is allocated for BARMM. This includes the Php 83.4 billion Annual Block Grant, which is the share of the Bangsamoro government in the national internal revenue tax collections, supporting them in exercising their powers and functions.
This amount also provides for the Special Development Fund, amounting to Php 5.0 billion, which will support the rebuilding, rehabilitation, and development of conflict-affected communities. BARMM also has a Php 5.9 billion current share and Php 2.2 billion continuing share in taxes, fees, and charges collected by revenue-collecting agencies and remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury.
Meanwhile, some Php 5.26 billion has been allocated for the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program; Php 912.9 million for the Normalization Program; and Php 36.1 million for socioeconomic development assistance to the former MNLF combatants in pursuit of the Government of the Philippines-MNLF Peace Process Program.
The government also funds specific programs designed to improve the welfare of the Bangsamoro people. These include the Reducing Vulnerabilities of Children from Hunger and Malnutrition in BARMM or Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUN), with an allocation of Php 157.6 million, and the establishment of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in 328 low-income LGUs nationwide—including 133 in Mindanao and 99 from BARMM—with Php 1 billion.
Under Republic Act No. 11696, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act, we released a total of Php 4.3 billion from FY 2023 to FY 2024 to compensate for the loss of lives and property destruction during the 2017 crisis. This year, we have allocated Php 1.0 billion to continue supporting Marawi’s recovery and rehabilitation, ensuring that my fellow Maranaos can rebuild and emerge stronger than ever.
For too long, the implementation of the WPS Agenda has been held back by inadequate funding. Through these budget allocations, we demonstrate our commitment to breaking that cycle by directing the necessary resources where they are most needed. We can fulfill this mission even more effectively with the active participation of our citizens in the National Budget cycle.
So, as we conclude the first part of my lecture, I challenge you, as future WPS experts, to make use of citizen engagement mechanisms to voice your priorities and hold institutions accountable. Especially for the women in this class, we need you to be part of the conversation, because the struggles of women can only truly be understood and spoken by women themselves. Help us guarantee that the principles of the WPS Agenda are integrated all throughout the budget cycle—from the preparation to the accountability phase—and that these efforts lead to the women’s full participation in achieving and sustaining peace.
II. The Impact of Women’s Voices on the WPS Agenda
For the second part of my lecture, I want to emphasize that women are not just beneficiaries of the WPS Agenda but also equal drivers of its progress and success—a crucial reason why women must be included in decision-making processes.
This inclusion is even more powerful when women occupy high-level government positions. Currently, there are four women, including yours truly, serving as cabinet secretaries of the Philippine government, shaping national policy and driving transformative change across diverse sectors.
I am proud to serve alongside strong leaders such as Secretary Cristina Aldeguer Roque of the Department of Trade and Industry, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco of the Department of Tourism. They are all testaments to the fact that when women lead, the entire nation benefits.
Beyond my role as DBM Secretary, I am also grateful to contribute to our country’s peace and development efforts. As the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Caraga, I have the privilege of leading the Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF-ELCAC), where I am able to champion sustainable peace, inclusive economic growth, and community development in conflict-affected areas.
I share this privilege together with my fellow women leaders in the Cabinet: Secretary Frasco who handles Central Visayas, Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga who handles Soccsksargen, and Secretary Roque who is an Executive Committee (Execom) member of the NTF-ELCAC.
Moreover, as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) with Member of the Parliament and Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, my role goes beyond strengthening the collaboration and relations between the Philippine National and Bangsamoro governments. I also take it as my responsibility to help build a more stable and peaceful BARMM where women can rise and thrive, and no woman is left behind.
One of our early achievements at the IGRB has been facilitating the entry of qualified former MILF and MNLF combatants into the Philippine National Police—an important step toward inclusive peacebuilding. Notably, 47 out of the 394 new recruits are women, marking a significant milestone for gender representation in the security sector.
I am also proud to share that we turned over our third IGRB Progress Report to President Ferdinand R. Macros Jr. last July 30, 2024, which he recognized as “a testament to our fruitful partnership and enduring commitment to peace and development.”
A significant accomplishment we laid out in the report is the activation and operationalization of all seven IGRB mechanisms which will provide platforms for strengthened partnership between the two governments and shall serve as the basis for all laws and policies enacted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament (BTA) Parliament.
And following PBBM’s direction during the progress report submission, we also completed the IGRB Manual of Operations to further guide the region’s socioeconomic transformation, even beyond its forthcoming elections.
As women leaders, we are also duty-bound to participate in significant events that allow us to share the stories of our communities. Our society may often describe women as 'loud,' but our loudness isn't about volume—it's about amplifying the voices of our people.
This is why I feel so honored to have led the Philippine Delegation and delivered our country’s statement at the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW68, last March 2024 at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
Together with thousands of advocates from around the world, we joined the call to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty, strengthening institutions, and financing with a gender perspective.
I also raised our flag during the second International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS) in Singapore last October 2024. This event allowed us to showcase our country’s achievements in uplifting the lives of our Muslim brothers and sisters while also learning from their best practices. Most importantly, it allowed me to stand tall as the only woman among the group of male leaders—sending a powerful message that we, women, belong in all places where decisions are being made.
We’re also exploring ways to collaborate on the organization of the 2026 ICCOS and establishing a regional network to promote Islamic Affairs and Governance. I invite you all to join us in this important mission of empowering our Muslim communities in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region.
I also look forward to collaborating with you for the 650th Anniversary of Philippine Muslim History and Heritage in 2030. As a member of the Situmiayat Wakhamsum Aldhikraa National Committee or SWANC, I am dedicated to helping make this commemoration historic—as it symbolizes the continued recognition of the Islamic presence and the vital role of Muslim Filipinos in our country.
Moreover, we also participate in conventions where the WPS Agenda is the main priority. At the first-ever ministerial-level International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS) which the Philippines hosted in October 2024, we organized a session on financing strategies for WPS initiatives. I am happy to note that the conversations were largely dominated by women leaders, sharing innovative solutions to address the gaps in support for women and girls in conflict-afflicted areas.
Similarly, at the 2025 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting which our country also hosted just last February, we conducted breakout session focused on leveraging open governance to advance the WPS Agenda. Our panelists, representing the academe, government, and civil society, brought unique perspectives but shared one key message: women’s participation in areas such as policy-making, cybersecurity, and governance is essential for achieving prosperity in our community of nations.
These are just a few of the events and high-level discussions where we have made our voices heard and our calls acted upon.
As we wrap up the second part of my lecture, I hope you, too, will take up space, and better yet, create space to advance the WPS Agenda. Take courage, and remember that all women already have a voice, they just need to be empowered to use it.
III. Key Strategies for Mainstreaming the WPS Agenda on a National and Global Scale
The final part of my lecture highlights the four key strategies for mainstreaming the WPS Agenda on a national and global scale.
First, we must embed the WPS Agenda into governance systems by promoting accountability, citizen participation, and inclusivity— principles that are crucial to building lasting peace in Mindanao.
One of the foundations of good and accountable governance is an efficient and sound public financial management (PFM) system. Since 2018, we have partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the BARMM Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management to strengthen and improve BARMM’s PFM system through capacity-building activities.
Similarly, we brought our OGPinas! Nationwide Advoacy Campaign on open government in BARMM to provide avenues for government-civil society partnerships and strengthen public participation in governance processes. This paved the way for the BARMM government to affirm its commitment to promoting open governance principles to empower the Bangsamoro.
Second, we must invest in capacity-building to implement WPS initiatives. I am glad to share that we launched the WPS Center of Excellence (WPS CoE) last March, just in time for the celebration of the National Women’s Month. Through this, we now have a collective platform to embed WPS into the Philippine Comprehensive Peace Processes, spearhead capacity-building efforts, and enhance collaboration and resource mobilization among local and international partners.
Earlier this month, we also joined the launch of the European Union-funded program institutionalizing the WPS Agenda in Mindanao through higher education. I share your excitement that the Diploma Program you're enrolled in is now receiving the recognition and support it truly deserves, including backing from our international partners. And so, I hope this becomes an inspiration for you to become the experts in WPS that we need, both here in BARMM and beyond.
Third, we need to localize the WPS Agenda to ensure that it is rooted in the realities of local communities, making it more relevant and responsive to their needs. When it comes to best practices in localization, we need not look far as BARMM has set a strong example in this regard.
With the help of our development partners such as UN Women, the Bangsamoro Women Commission developed the Bangsamoro Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (RAPWPS).
This plan was crafted not only to advance the rights and roles of women but also to help fulfill the vision of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL): to build a peaceful community where women are recognized as partners in nation-building.
Lastly, advancing the WPS Agenda requires strong global collaboration. A key milestone of the ICWPS was the adoption of the Pasay Declaration by the UN member states. This reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to accelerating progress toward gender equality and ensuring women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and recovery efforts.
So, when the work feels heavy and your efforts seem to go unnoticed, remember this: you are not alone. The adoption of the Pasay Declaration is a testament to the fact that thousands across the globe—leaders, advocates, and most importantly, trailblazing women—stand with you in this journey.
And while we have already come a long way, the road ahead remains long. But I am confident that each day will be brighter than the last because we have you. Today, you may see yourselves as students working toward earning a Diploma on WPS, but to us, you are already the kind of leaders we need to carry this agenda forward. Thank you for taking this course and for choosing to be part of the solution.
This ends my lecture, and I hope that I was able to not only instill knowledge but also inspire you to take on this challenge and remain steadfast in this collective pursuit.
Maraming, maraming salamat po!
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.
END
