My dear colleagues in the DBM and fellow public servants from the Central Office and the Regional Offices, good afternoon to everyone. Thank you for being here, the first time that we have this Regional Coordination Meeting (RCM) that I attended as Acting Secretary. 

As you know, this is a very difficult time for our nation—politically, economically, and morally. And even the DBM has been a casualty of politics and of course, allegations.  

It has been actually one month kahapon, since the day that our Secretary entrusted me this institution as an Acting Secretary. Naging totoo na ang ating slogan: Dito Bawal Matulog kasi kagabi—kaninang umaga, nagmo-monitor tayo ng bicam. 

In fact, I kept on asking myself why I accepted this, and I always answer it: “because it’s not for me that I accepted. It is for the institution, our DBM family.” 

Just last Monday, I—along with Usec. Janet, ASec. Rhea, and some other DBM colleagues—were called to the ICI or the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. I don’t know kung napanood ninyo ‘yon. Huwag po kayong mag-alala, wala naman po silang iniimbestigahan sa DBM. We were there to brief them on the budget process as well as our fiscal transparency reforms. And I was able to reassure the ICI of our commitment to improving the entire budget process, from of course, budget preparation up to the execution. Nakakatuwa lang at the end, sinabi ni ICI Chair (Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr.) that he has a good word not just for me but for the DBM. He believed that our institution has that kind of integrity. 

This is our commitment not just to ICI but also for the Filipino people and second, for us all here in the DBM. Because we know for a fact, we have been doing a lot of reforms already. Kailangan lang natin ipagpatuloy ang mga reforms na iyon. 

Last October, I was with Sec. Mina and ED Gen of PS (Procurement Service) and other government and non-government Philippine delegation in Spain. Kasama namin dito si Director Ryan, si Usec. Wong, wherein the Philippines received the OpenGov Challenge award in the Anti-Corruption category for our procurement reforms. 

We have also been working on fiscal transparency through our digitalization efforts since day 1 of this Administration. And just this week, we went live with our Budget and Treasury Management System or the BTMS, fulfilling our commitment under the PFM Reforms Roadmap. 

Last October, we also launched the first phase of Project DIME, or Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation, specifically the section on flood control projects—which is a controversial one—not only for the government but also for the people to be able to monitor in real time the status of government infrastructure projects. Ang kagandahan naman nito, we’re leveraging the use of technology with the use of drones, and even satellites. Isa pang kagandahan din nito, citizens can actively participate in monitoring these projects under the Project DIME. 

Last August, we launched our enhanced Agency Performance Review, another effort of ours to track the budget utilization of our different agencies. We will enhance this even further so that we are able to monitor not only utilization but also performance. Kailangan dito ng tulong ng ating regional offices in this monitoring operation. 

Last May, we conducted our first ever economic dialogue with CSOs wherein, for the first time, the government allowed our CSOs to give their input and insights for our consideration as we set our macroeconomic targets. This is a first not only in Asia—but as we learned last week upon the OECD visit—in the world.  

And we continue our commitment to transparency as reflected in the Open Budget Survey, wherein we were ranked first in fiscal transparency—alam naman n’yo na lagi tayong nangunguna at ayaw nating malagpasan ng ating neighboring countries. 

As you can see, even way before the flood control investigations, the DBM has already been working on transparency, accountability and public participation. So I assured the ICI that the DBM is at the forefront of combatting corruption—as we always have been. Kasi ‘yon naman talaga ang gusto nating mangyari. 

So let's not end 2025 on a bitter note. Alam natin sa labas may binabato sa DBM.  First, because the bicam adjourned last night so we will not have a reenacted budget. Salamat sa Diyos! We will have a budget for 2026 that will nurture future-ready generations with the biggest budget ever for Education, reaching 4 percent of GDP.  

But more importantly, because there is much for the DBM to be proud of. We have done a lot to make our government better. Of course, thank you to our Sec. Mina, and of course, the support, coming from you, the regional offices, from the various offices of the DBM, for all the reforms that we have been doing. The DBM is already at the forefront of these reforms. 

Alam n’yo naman kung ano ang mga reforms na ating ginagawa. One, is the passage of the NGPA, the inclusion of healthcare in our government packages. Actually ‘yon din ang isa sa pinag-usapan kanina, how we can improve the healthcare packages. We had a meeting with the President, PhilHealth, and DOH (Department of Health). Given the increase in the PhilHealth budget, maraming maitutulong ‘yan sa atin especially to our indigent patients.  

We also passed the Government Optimization Law which seemed impossible to pass; we have our efforts for Women, Peace and Security; and just this December, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed EO 107 updating the base pay schedule for the military and uniformed personnel or MUP. These all reflect the DBM's commitment to having an efficient, transparent, and people-centered government. 

And as we enter 2026, we will push for Congress to pass the first ever Philippine Budgeting Code, wherein we will institutionalize our efforts for a more transparent and accountable government. We will continue to develop our Good Governance course in Capacity Development, wherein we will instill not only skills but also values through our PFM Competency Program. And we will improve our monitoring systems to ensure that every peso that is allocated is accounted for. 

We have a lot to do. But I know we can do it because in my 38 years in DBM, if there is one thing I have observed, it is that Dito ang Budget officers ay Magaling.  

Let us stand tall amidst this crisis. I am confident that the DBM will not only survive but I intend for DBM to lead our nation into a 2026 that will shine with integrity and bring back the people's trust in our government. Of course, with the help and cooperation of all of you from our regions.  

On that note, let me be the first to greet you Merry Christmas! Christmas is about hope. Let us hope for better days for our country and with faith, let us—together—work hard to achieve our dreams for a better nation. 

Maraming salamat po.  

END