To SEAMEO INNOTECH, led by its Centre Director, Dr. Majah-Leah V. Ravago;
Her Excellency, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines, Ma’am Makawadee Sumitmor;
Fellow public servants and our dear participants present today, as well as those watching us online;
Good afternoon, everyone!
Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
On behalf of the Philippine Government, allow me to express my deepest gratitude to SEAMEO INNOTECH for being our long-standing partner in advancing innovative, research-based, and technology-oriented solutions to address educational challenges not only in our country but throughout Southeast Asia.
In fact, this seminar series is a shining example of your commitment to empowering the entire region to effectively respond to the current and emerging needs of our learners and educators through lifelong learning and inclusive development.
And so, I am honored to speak at the 7th INNOTECH Seminar Series on Education, Innovation, and Technology, following the powerhouse lineup of thought leaders who have previously discussed Artificial Intelligence (AI), Knowledge Economies, Functional Literacy Statistics, Future-Ready Higher Education, and STEM Education—all of which are important topics to our efforts to build a future-proof nation.
I would like to focus on three key topics: how we are transforming education and digitalization through public financial management and budget strategies, the reforms we are implementing to transform public service delivery, and the importance of applying a whole-of-society approach to achieving our national development goals as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
BUDGET PRIORITIES
As you may know, the plenary deliberations on the proposed Php 6.793 trillion National Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 have already begun. For this year, our topmost priority is to nurture future-ready generations as clearly identified even in our budget theme.
This follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. He even mentioned this in his last State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he said: Puspusan pang aayusin at pagagandahin ng Administrasyon ang sistema ng edukasyon.
This is why, for FY 2026, we have significantly increased the allocation for basic and higher education to Php 1.224 trillion. And I am proud to share that through the efforts and determination of our hardworking team at the DBM, for the first time, the Philippines will meet UNESCO's recommendation of allocating at least 4.0 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for education.
Of this amount, the Department of Education (DepEd) is allocated Php 928.52 billion to ensure the delivery of quality basic education across the country.
This budget will also ensure that no Filipino learner will be hindered by undernutrition or hunger. Some Php 11.8 billion is allocated for the expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP).
In line with our commitment to ensuring that no child will be left behind, our Last Mile Schools Program will also receive Php 3.0 billion to address the gaps in resources and facilities of schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), while the Alternative Learning System (ALS) for out-of-school youth and adults will have a budget of almost Php 700 million.
Furthermore, we recognize that our students will have more opportunities to excel in a learning environment with robust physical and digital infrastructure. So, we have proposed a budget of Php 28.1 billion for Basic Education Facilities to support the construction of new classrooms, the repair and rehabilitation of existing ones, water supply and sanitation facilities, and other critical improvements.
Meanwhile, the DepEd Computerization Program will have a budget of Php 16.45 billion, recording a significant increase of 576 percent from its budget this year to support the roll-out of e-Classroom and e-Learning packages.
We are equally committed to closing the gaps in our education workforce and enhancing the welfare of our educators. In line with this, we have allocated Php 15.39 billion to create over 65,000 teaching and non-teaching positions to ease the burden of administrative work on teachers.
Towards a more accessible high-quality tertiary education, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) will receive Php 134.99 billion, while the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will be allotted Php 34.0 billion to support its ACHIEVE Agenda. Of this amount, Php 27.41 billion will fund the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) to cover the tuition and other school fees of our students.
Meanwhile, some Php 2.15 billion will also be allocated for the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) to ensure that deserving learners from poor to lower-middle-income households will not be left behind. And for the first time, we will introduce the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholars Program (BPMSP) with an allocation of Php 630 million. This will empower incoming college students from low-income households who graduated with the highest honors in Senior High School to pursue their degrees, even up to Master’s.
Ilan lang po ito sa mga budget na inilaan natin upang palakasin at pagandahin pa ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa. Hangad namin na maaprubahan ang budget na ito upang mabigyan ng katuparan hindi lang ang ating mga plano, kundi ang mga pangarap ng bawat kabataang Pilipino.
KEY DIGITALIZATION REFORMS
To achieve this goal, we will ensure not only the passage of the national budget but also its prudent management through our digitalization initiatives.
Since the beginning of this Administration, we have harnessed technology to transform public service—making it more transparent, efficient, and effective.
In fact, according to the latest United Nations E-Government Survey1, the Philippines moved up 16 spots in terms of digital governance, from 89th to 73rd worldwide, in just two years! I am proud to share that we have progressed from the high to the very high E-Government Development Index (EGDI) group, reflecting our success in strengthening digital infrastructure, expanding internet connectivity, and integrating digital tools into governance.
At the DBM, we leverage technology in public financial management (PFM) to make the utilization of government resources more efficient and effective, and more importantly, to open up the budget process to the people.
Following the directive of PBBM to digitalize and harmonize our PFM processes, we launched the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024 to 2028 in October last year, which outlines targeted interventions, activities, and outcomes across 11 strategic focus areas to modernize our PFM system.
IFMIS and BTMS
One of our key priority areas is the Digital PFM, which aims to achieve the full adoption of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) across all agencies, ensuring seamless and efficient government transactions.
I’m also excited to announce that we are moving full speed ahead with the cloud-based deployment of the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS), starting with the core partner agencies with top-spending budget allocations. This September, the BTr and DBM will go live with the system, followed by the DOF, DepEd, DEPDev, DOH, and DSWD in October.
The initial rollout of the BTMS—focusing on the Budget Execution and Utilization Module—will establish a database of daily financial transactions across all national government agencies. This will enable real-time monitoring of obligations and disbursements, guiding decision-makers to further improve resource allocation.
Child-Responsive PFM
To complement these efforts, we also launched the results of the 2024 multi-framework Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Assessments, conducted with the support of the Asian Development Bank, among other development partners.
Another milestone for the DBM is that for the first time, we have produced five reports, including the country’s first-ever Child-Responsive PFM (ChPFM) Assessment. This report provided the baseline data on child-focused budgeting at the national level and recommended the integration of children’s welfare across all stages of our PFM processes.
Sa pamamagitan nito, masisiguro natin na ang pera ng taumbayan ay nagagamit nang tama upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng bawat mamamayan—lalo na ng ating mga kabataan.
New Government Procurement Act
This was also our guiding principle when we advocated for procurement reforms, leading to the enactment of Republic Act No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act. This landmark law—hailed as the biggest anti-corruption measure in recent history—harnesses the power of technology to streamline procurement processes, primarily through the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS)2.
This includes innovative features such as the eMarketplace, promoting greater transparency, accountability, operational efficiency, and value for money.
It also introduces fit-for-purpose procurement modalities, which now include the Direct Procurement for Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)3. This approach supports research and development, as well as the creation of pre-commercial goods, which are vital to advancing the country's innovation ecosystem.
Fiscal Transparency Initiatives
We are also leveraging technology to enhance fiscal transparency. I am proud to share that we are currently ranked number 1 in budget transparency not just in Southeast Asia but in the entire Asia based on the latest Open Budget Survey. And we intend to maintain our standing through our digitalization efforts.
Towards this end, our DBM website is home to all key budget documents, including the People’s Budget or the simplified version of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA), which our citizens can access to understand and scrutinize budget allocations across government programs and projects.
On top of that, our website features a Budget Analytics Dashboard where citizens can monitor the status of our National Budget, particularly the NEP Budget Dimensions and the Local Government Support Fund.
I have also seen in the news that there are some senators and congressmen who are proposing to use blockchain for transparency. Sa DBM, matagal na po naming nasimulan ito.
I am also pleased to highlight that the Philippines is now among the first countries in Asia4 to adopt a public blockchain infrastructure for tracking government spending. This groundbreaking initiative enables the public to access immutable, real-time records of key budget documents—such as Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) and Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs).
We take pride in pioneering this reform, and we welcome the support of both the Senate and the House of Representatives as they work to institutionalize blockchain technology through legislation.
However, as we are all aware, the numbers on paper may not always align with the actual progress of our projects on the ground. That is why throughout last month, we have been intensifying our monitoring efforts to ensure that every peso translates to real and tangible outcomes.
In line with this, we recently launched Project DIME, or the Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation, a platform that uses geotagging and satellite imaging to enable our citizens to track the progress of major infrastructure projects online. In fact, we have been working on this since we assumed office in 2022.
Through Project DIME, you can now see the budget utilization, implementing agency, contractor, contract agreements, timelines, and current status of different projects at a glance. We have also integrated disaster resilience and climate risk analysis into this monitoring system by adding a Flood Control Component, made possible through our partnership with UP NOAH.
Finally, we now also have the Budget ng Bayan Monitor, or the FY 2024 Enhanced Agency Performance Report, which thoroughly assessed the financial and physical performance of all government agencies, as well as the timeliness and quality of their reports. So that we know if they are utilizing their budget well, kung ginagamit ba nila ng tama ang mga pondong inilaan para sa mga proyektong hiningan nila ng pondo.
Sa pamamagitan ng mga inisyatibong ito, nagsisilbing tulay ang teknolohiya upang gawing mas bukas ang proseso ng pagpaplano at pamamahala ng ating pondo na nakatuon sa mga prayoridad ng ating gobyerno.
ENABLING STRATEGIES
For the final part of my presentation, allow me to share the various strategies that the DBM implements to enable a whole-of-society approach towards achieving our Agenda for Prosperity.
Program Convergence Budgeting
First, we are using the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) Approach—an inter-agency effort to eliminate program duplication and align targets, beneficiaries, resources, and timelines across agencies, as directed by the President.
Open Governance Initiatives
Second, as a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and now a member of its Global Steering Committee, we continue to champion open governance at every level. Our recent hosting of the 2025 OGP Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting strengthened regional collaboration in advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
Meanwhile, our OGPinas! nationwide advocacy campaign has been mobilizing local government leaders, students, and civil society organizations to embrace open governance principles and engage in governance processes. And I am delighted to share that earlier this month, we launched the regional implementation of OGPinas! through our DBM Regional Offices—celebrating local innovations, highlighting grassroots champions, and co-creating solutions that reflect the unique realities of our regions.
Sa bukás na pamamahala, ang boses ng mga Pilipino ay napakikinggan—kaya nasisiguro natin na mas epektibo at makabuluhan ang pagbuo ng ating mga programa sa edukasyon, digitalisasyon, at iba pa.
Bawat budget, reporma, at stratehiya na akin pong ibinahagi ay may iisang layunin: ang tiyakin na may magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga kabataan dahil #BawatBukasMahalaga.
Kaya inaanyayahan po namin kayo na makiisa sa pagsusulong ng aming mga inisyatiba at adbokasiya tungo sa mas maunlad at makabuluhang bukas para sa lahat.
Through education, digitalization, and collaboration, let us achieve the full potential of our nation and our vision of a Bagong Pilipinas.
Maraming salamat po!
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhuh.
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