To our colleagues at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Office VIII, led by Director Imelda C. Laceras;
Fellow public servants from the Regional Inter-Agency Team for Public Financial Management (PFM);
And to all the Local Chief Executives, local budget officers, PFM practitioners, and esteemed participants from all the 149 Local Government Units in Eastern Visayas:
Maupay nga aga! Maayong buntag! At isang mapagpalang araw po sa inyong lahat!
First of all, congratulations to the organizers of the second Eastern Visayas LGU–PFM Summit! This event is a clear testament to our unwavering commitment not only to sustaining our gains, but also to continuing to elevate our standards of excellence in local PFM.
Sa mga nagdaang buwan, hindi po lingid sa ating kaalaman ang matinding pagsubok na dinanas ng ating mga kababayan sa Eastern Visayas matapos ang sunod-sunod na pananalasa ng mga bagyo. Bilang mga lingkod-bayan, tungkulin natin na matulungan ang bawat Pilipino na makabangon sa lalong madaling panahon—at sa mahalagang misyon na ito, napakahalaga po ng papel na ating ginagampanan upang mabigyan ng agarang tulong ang ating mga kababayan.
On our end at the DBM, we immediately approved the release of Php 1.684 billion1 to replenish the Quick Response Funds of key government agencies leading post-disaster relief and recovery following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan. This follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to fast-track recovery and rehabilitation in areas hit by recent calamities across the country.
Meanwhile, as PFM practitioners and local budget officers, even during times when there is no crisis, it is your responsibility to ensure that every peso of our National Budget reaches our people, efficiently and effectively, and especially at the time when they need it the most.
So, as we close another year, we hope that the funds allotted to your LGUs have been fully utilized but beyond that, we hope that our communities have truly felt the services intended for them.
Of course, we also look forward to our Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Budget, which is currently under review and deliberation by members of the Legislative branch. Ang budget na ito ay produkto ng mahigit sa anim na buwang pagod, tiyaga, at dedikasyon ng mga kawani ng DBM, katuwang ang iba pang ahensya at ang ating mga Cabinet Secretaries na naghain ng kani-kanilang panukalang budget para sa mga programa at proyekto ng kanilang ahensya.
Masusi po itong sinusuri upang masiguro na ang pondo ng bayan ay makakatugon sa pinaka-agarang mga pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino at higit pang mapalago ang ating ekonomiya.
For FY 2026, 1.350 trillion pesos has been allocated for LGUs under the proposed FY 2026 National Budget. I put my trust in all of you to utilize this allotted budget to provide Filipinos with the excellent public service they rightfully deserve.
But our support does not end here. To complement local efforts, we will continue to strengthen the country’s PFM landscape through institutional reforms that modernize and strengthen our PFM systems and workforce, enhance bureaucratic efficiency, and promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
At umaasa po kami na katuwang ang ating LGUs, lalo na ang ating magigiting at matatapang na local budget officers at PFM practitioners, mas mapapaigting pa natin ang makatarungang pamamahala sa budget ng bayan, para sa mas magandang kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan.
As our top-caliber speakers share updates on ongoing PFM reforms of our government, present the FY 2025 Enhanced PFM Assessment Tool results, and highlight best practices from high-performing LGUs, may you be further equipped, inspired, and empowered to advance our shared Agenda for Prosperity in your respective communities.
Galingan po nating lahat at sama-sama po nating i-angat ang ating mahal na Pilipinas.
Mabuhay ang Eastern Visayas! Mabuhay ang Pilipino at ang Bagong Pilipinas!
Maraming salamat po.
END
