KEYNOTE MESSAGE
To the Region Eight Association of Local Budget Officers or REALBO, led by President Adelwisa L. Acebuche; my colleagues from the Department of Budget and Management Regional Office VIII, led by Regional Director Imelda C. Laceras; our respected local chief executives; members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Panlungsod at Bayan; local budget officers; members of the Local Finance Committee; fellow public financial management practitioners; and our partners from local government units—maupay nga aga ha iyo ngatanan!
Allow me first to commend REALBO and DBM Region VIII for organizing this Executive Course on Good Governance Tools to Strengthen Eastern Visayas LGU Public Financial Management Systems.
This initiative demonstrates the strong partnership between our professional associations and government institutions in advancing better governance.
Programs like this are important because governance today is becoming more complex. Local governments are expected to respond to many challenges—from disaster response, to rising prices of basic goods, to building infrastructure, to ensuring health and education services for our communities.
Behind all these programs is one critical factor: how well public funds are managed. And that is why gatherings like this matter.
Because when we strengthen public financial management systems, we strengthen the ability of government to serve our people.
The Frontline of Government Service
It is always a pleasure to be here in Tacloban. Sabi nga nila, kapag napunta ka sa Tacloban, hindi ka lang mabubusog sa binagol at iba pang masasarap na pagkain—mararamdaman mo rin ang init ng pagtanggap ng komunidad sa kanilang mga bisita.
But Tacloban and the whole of Eastern Visayas are known for something even greater than hospitality.
Many of us still remember the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Entire communities were flattened. Homes were washed away. Families lost loved ones. For a time, it seemed almost impossible to rebuild.
But the people of Eastern Visayas refused to give up. Slowly, through unity, courage, and determination, communities began to rise again. Homes were rebuilt. Schools reopened. Roads were restored. Families started over.
Today, Tacloban stands not only as a place of recovery—but as a symbol of Filipino resilience and hope.
At kung may isang aral na ibinigay sa atin ng Tacloban matapos ang Yolanda, ito ay: Kahit gaano kalakas ang bagyo, mas malakas pa rin ang bayan kapag nagkakaisa ang pamahalaan at mamamayan.
And that story reminds us of an important truth. When disasters strike, when communities suffer, and when people are in need, it is local governments that stand at the frontline of response and recovery, at kayo ‘yon.
It is the mayor. It is the council. It is the local finance team. It is the budget officer.
Kayo po ang unang nilalapitan ng mamamayan. And that is why your work is so important.
While DBM safeguards the national budget, local governments translate public resources into real programs and services—whether in the form of infrastructure projects, health programs, disaster response initiatives, or social services that uplift communities.
Because behind every recovery program, every housing project, every rebuilt road, every restored school, and every relief program—there is careful planning, responsible budgeting, and strong public financial management.
Without these, recovery would not have been possible.
And that is why strengthening public financial management systems is not just about improving government processes.
It is about ensuring that when communities face their hardest moments, government is ready to help them stand again.
Why Public Financial Management Matters
Public Financial Management—or PFM—may sound technical. But its impact is very real.
PFM determines whether medicines reach rural health units. Whether classrooms are built on time. Whether disaster funds are released quickly. Whether infrastructure projects are completed properly.
In simple terms, PFM ensures that every peso of public funds produces real results for the Filipino people.
Ang bawat pondong hawak ng pamahalaan ay pera ng taumbayan. Kaya tungkulin nating tiyakin na ang bawat piso ay ginagamit nang tama, malinaw, at may tunay na pakinabang sa mamamayan.
When PFM systems are weak, projects are delayed, services slow down, and communities suffer. But when PFM systems are strong, government becomes more transparent, more responsive, and more trusted.
And that is exactly what this executive course seeks to strengthen.
Learning From the PFM Assessment
The results of the Fiscal Year 2025 Public Financial Management Assessment for LGUs in Eastern Visayas provide valuable insights.
These assessments help identify areas where systems are already working well and areas where improvements are still needed—particularly in budgeting processes, procurement practices, internal control mechanisms, and financial oversight.
These findings are not meant to criticize. They are meant to guide improvement. Because governance is not about perfection. It is about continuous improvement.
And that is why this executive course is so valuable. Because by strengthening the skills of our PFM practitioners, we strengthen the entire governance system.
Strengthening LGUs Under the Bagong Pilipinas Vision
Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., strengthening local governments remains a key priority of this administration.
The President believes that real development should not only be felt in the national capital. It must reach every province, every city, every municipality, and every barangay.
That is why this year, the national government allocated P1.19 trillion for the National Tax Allotment for LGUs.
And to ensure uninterrupted delivery of community programs and basic services, the DBM released these funds in full as early as January.
Of this amount, P247.53 billion goes to the Visayas, and P70.75 billion is allocated to Eastern Visayas.
These funds support healthcare, education, disaster response, infrastructure development, and other essential services for our communities.
This reflects the spirit of the Mandanas–Garcia Supreme Court ruling, which aims to strengthen local governments so they can better serve their people.
To ensure a smooth transition toward full devolution, President Marcos also issued Executive Order No. 103, establishing a roadmap that will guide LGUs toward greater autonomy and stronger institutional capacity.
Local Government Support Fund: Bawat Bayan Makikinabang
To further support LGUs, the national government significantly increased the Local Government Support Fund or LGSF to P57.87 billion.
This is more than double the previous year’s allocation. This is now the largest LGSF allocation in the history of the Philippines.
This means development should not be limited to major cities. Every municipality deserves the opportunity to progress.
Even the most remote communities must have the resources to improve the lives of their people.
Helping Filipino Families Through Local Programs
One important program supported under the LGSF is the Financial Assistance to LGUs or FALGU, which supports the Rice Distribution Project.
Through this initiative, more than five million Filipino families will receive 60 kilos of rice per year, distributed monthly for six months.
At first glance, this may seem like a simple intervention. But for families struggling with rising food prices, this support can make a real difference.
It means parents can worry less about whether there will be rice on the table for their children. It means workers can stretch their income further.
And most importantly, it shows that government is present and responsive to the needs of the people.
DBM’s Approach to PFM Reforms
At the DBM, we recognize that managing public funds is not only about numbers. It is about building a government that people can trust.
That is why we are implementing the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024–2028.
At the center of these reforms is the Integrated Financial Management Information System, powered by the Budget and Treasury Management System or BTMS.
After a successful pilot, we are expanding this system to all 315 national government agencies by 2027, connecting nearly 10,000 users into a single interoperable platform.
This allows real-time monitoring of government spending and strengthens transparency across agencies.
Simply put, we are building a modern, digital, and transparent budgeting system.
Investing in People
But even the best systems will only succeed if the people managing them are prepared.
That is why DBM continues to expand the Public Financial Management Competency Program.
Through partnerships with development institutions and our State Universities and Colleges, we are strengthening the capabilities of public servants across the country.
Because when PFM practitioners are well trained: Projects are better planned. Funds are used more efficiently. Corruption is prevented. And services reach the people faster.
In the end, strong governance always begins with competent and committed public servants.
Closing
With these, I now leave you in the capable hands of our budget experts from the DBM and our distinguished resource speakers.
I hope this executive course will help refresh and deepen your understanding of fiscal policies and reforms affecting your communities.
But more importantly, I hope it empowers you to become even stronger stewards of public funds. Because the knowledge you gain here will not remain inside this room. It will shape the budgets you prepare. It will influence the programs you implement. And it will determine how quickly services reach the Filipino people who need them most.
Let us always remember this: Good budgeting is not just about numbers. Good budgeting is about people.
Behind every budget line is a story— A farmer hoping for better roads to bring his harvest to the market. A student waiting for a classroom where dreams can grow. A mother lining up in a rural health unit hoping that medicine will be available for her child. A family rebuilding their home after a typhoon.
And whether they know it or not, the decisions that you make inside your offices will shape their future. That is the quiet but powerful impact of public financial management.
Dahil kung tama ang paggamit ng bawat piso ng bayan, hindi lang budget ang napapangalagaan natin—kinabukasan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino ang ating pinoprotektahan.
Kapag bawat piso ay ginamit nang tama, bawat proyekto ay natapos nang maayos, at bawat komunidad ay naramdaman ang serbisyo ng gobyerno—doon natin masasabi na sa Bagong Pilipinas, tunay ngang bawat bayan ay makikinabang.
At tandaan po natin ito: Ang bawat piso ng bayan ay sagrado.
Kaya kapag mahigpit ang pamamahala sa budget, malinaw ang ating mensahe sa buong bansa: Sa Bagong Pilipinas, walang puwang ang korapsyon—at walang piso ng taumbayan ang masasayang.
Damo nga salamat, Eastern Visayas.
Maraming salamat po, at mabuhay kayong lahat!
[END]
