To the Local Government of Pangasinan, represented by no less than Governor Ramon V. Guico III and City of Dagupan Mayor Belen T. Fernandez—maraming salamat po sa mainit na pagtanggap sa amin sa Department of Budget and Management;

To the Association of Local Budget Administrators in Region I (ALBA I), Inc. headed by President Gilbert P. Botardo;

To my DBM colleagues, most especially to the DBM-Regional Office I led by our Regional Director Ria Bansigan whose support has been invaluable to the success of this activity;

To our local budget officers and Public Financial Manaement (PFM) practitioners; and all our participants, naimbag a bigat! Naimbag nga adlaw masantos ma kabwasan e kayo amin! And greetings of peace.

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

Napakasaya ko po na makita kayong lahat dito sa Dagupan. 
I am happy to see that there are hundreds of you here today. I sincerely thank all of you for taking the time to participate in this event despite your busy schedules.

This PFMCP is really important because we need to spend our budget effectively for our people. Kaya kahit nanggaling po kami sa Tawi-Tawi noong Tuesday, nasa Senate para sa budget hearing noong Wednesday buong araw, at nasa Davao kahapon hanggang kagabi, talagang pinilit ko po na umabot dito sa Dagupan ngayong araw na ito para makasama kayo!

I hope that you have learned much under the Foundation and Budgeting tracks. And today, our very own Executive Director of PS-DBM, Executive Director  Dennis Santiago will discuss the Procurement Track. 

Napaka-importante po ng procurement track na ito. Kahit po ang ating mahal na Pangulo, Pangulong Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., ay kinikilala ang kahalagahan ng procurement. During his second State of the Nation Address, he appealed to Congress to enact the amendments to our 20-year-old Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).

I am also happy to share that we have presented the proposed amendments to the GPRA and both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines have begun their hearings on this. Kasama po sa mga panukala nating mga pagbabago sa GPRA ay ang market scoping, early procurement activities, at ang pagkakaroon ng modernized Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System o mPhilGEPS. 

Sabi po nila, ‘yung ipinasang Government Procurement Reform  Act, ‘yun po ‘yung world-class procurement act. Tama ba ako? Si Atty. Dennis po ay batang abogado pa noon. Kasama ko po siya, ako po ay isang researcher lang sa office ni Senator Angara, sila po ‘yung mga katulong namin, mga resource persons namin para mabuo po ‘yung Government Procurement Act. 

Dati po kasi, wala pa tayo, iba-ibang mga circulars lang iyan sa Executive, tapos ay binuo nila iyan. Twenty years ago, umiikot po si Senator Edgardo J. Angara sa buong ASEAN para ipakita sa kanila kung gaano kaganda yung procurement reform act natin. 

Pero sabi nga ni Atty. Dennis, ‘yung change po, talagang nangyayari ‘yan sa buhay ng tao. Dahil may eleksyon, nagbabago ‘yung mga tao. So while the Government Procurement Act, twenty years ago, is a world-class law, I think it is about time to amend because of the changing times, because of modernization. We have to thank Atty. Dennis Santiago kasi siya po ‘yung nag-spearhead ng amendments, siya po yung humaharap sa House of Representatives at saka sa Senate para po mapabuti iyong ating Government Procurement Reform Act.  So palakpakan po natin si Atty. Dennis. 

We are also working hard to secure not only a future-proof but also a sustainable economy. That means for procurement, we must also implement a Green Public Procurement Strategy. This will ensure the reduced environmental impact of procured goods and infrastructure projects. 

Magkakaroon din po tayo ng electronic o e-marketplace para sa ating mga common-use at non-common-use supplies. Ito ay parang Shopee o Lazada. Magkakaroon po tayo ng gano’n but this time, we will ensure na ‘yung gagawin ng PS-DBM, ni Atty. Dennis, kapag inorder n’yo po, kung ano ang makita niyong litrato, kung ganito siya kalaki, dadating siya sa inyo nang ganito kalaki. Kasi hindi ba minsan po sa Lazada saka sa Shopee, inorder n’yo ganito, dumating sa inyo kalahati lang, o hindi kaya iba ang kulay. So si Atty. Dennis po, he will ensure na mapabilis ang pino-procure ninyo at ‘yung quality ng pino-procure ninyo ay tama at responsive sa pangangailangan n’yo. So, mag-a-add to cart na lang tayo lagi.

Habang inaayos natin ang procurement reform, sinisikap din po natin na maipasa na ang ating Fiscal Year 2024 National Budget. I am proud to share that the House of Representatives approved the Fiscal Year 2024 General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading last September 27—wherein a total of Php 1.008 trillion or 17.5 percent will be allocated to the Local Government Units. At nitong Miyerkules lamang, November 8, ay sinimulan na ng Senado ang kanilang plenary budget deliberations sa pamumuno ni Senate Committee on Finance Chair Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara. 

Ang lahat nang ito po ay naging posible dahil sa inyo, aming mga minamahal na planning and budget officers. Kayo po ang tulay upang maipaabot ng gobyerno ang ating mga serbisyo publiko at magkaroon ng PFM system na tunay na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga pinaglilingkuran.

Makakaasa po kayong mas pagbubutihin pa po namin sa DBM at pagsusumikapan namin upang masiguro na ang National Budget ay tunay na para sa Pilipino at para patuloy po kaming makapaghatid hindi lamang ng capacity-building at assistance sa inyong lahat kundi maihatid sa lalong madaling panahon ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan.

Through this PFMCP, I hope that you will be inspired not only to work harder but also to help us implement the necessary reforms that will improve our government systems and processes. 

I also hope that this PFM Competency Program will help you create and execute the necessary Programs, Activities, and Projects that will make your respective LGUs thrive because ultimately, that is the wisdom of the Mandanas-Garcia Supreme Court Ruling: to empower our LGUs to serve the people in your localities faster and better.

Sama-sama po nating paigtingin at pagitingin ang ating mga LGU sa pamamagitan ng wasto at tapat na pagsasagawa at paggamit ng ating mga budget tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas. Together, let us secure a future-proof and sustainable economy to achieve our Agenda for Prosperity. 

Mabuhay po ang Region I! Mabuhay po ang Pangasinan! Mabuhay ang Pilipino at ang Bagong Pilipinas.

Maraming salamat po.
Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

To Tawi-Tawi Governor Ysmael Ismail Sali, Vice Governor Al-Syed Sali, Simunul Mayor Wasilah Abdurahman, Vice-Mayor Ershad Abdurahman; National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chair Dr. Emmanuel Calairo; National Museum Director General Jeremy Barns; Captain Christopher Auro and the Philippine Coast Guard; our fellow public servants and colleagues from the National and the Bangsamoro Governments; and to everyone gathered here today to witness this historical occasion, magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat!

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Isang mapagpalang Sheikh Makhdum Day sa inyong lahat!

First, I would like to thank the NHCP, BARMM, the Province of Tawi-Tawi, and the Local Government Unit of Simunul for this invitation. As a proud daughter of Mindanao and the only Muslim woman in the cabinet of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., I am honored to deliver this keynote address for the Unveiling of the Historical Marker of the Sheikh Makhdum Mosque. Together with the Unveiling of the Historical Marker in the burial site of Sheikh Karim ul Makhdum yesterday in Sibutu, these officially begin our countdown to the 650th Anniversary of the Philippine Muslim History and Heritage that will be celebrated in 2030.

While this is seven years away, we are very blessed to have a President who is one with us not only in advocating for the development and prosperity of Mindanao but also in recognizing the importance of Islam in our history and culture. So let me take this opportunity to thank—bagong-bago pa ito, fresh na fresh from Malacañang—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing the Administrative Order No. 10, constituting the Situmiayat Wakhamsun Aldhikraa National Committee which shall take charge of the preparations for this celebration even as early as now. Rest assured that the Committee, chaired by the NHCP, with the NCMF and BCPCH as vice-chairs and with DBM as one of its members, will undertake the overall study, conceptualization, and implementation of programs and projects relevant to the commemoration with the end goal of reinvigorating the spirit of national unity. Sa Bagong Pilipinas, makakaasa po kayong lahat na hindi lamang kasali kundi prayoridad ang Mindanao.

Kanina po ikinuwento sa atin ni Doctor Manny—tawag ko po sa kanya ay professor, kasi kapag may ibibigay po siya sa akin, laging libro; gusto po niya nagbabasa ako palagi ng libro—kaya si professor nung naikuwento niya kanina, he was only just three days in his position as chairman (of NHCP). Tapos, naimbitahan po tayo para sa 100-day countdown ng 125th Philippine Independence Anniversary. Habang nag-uusap po kami—siguro wala siyang maisip at nalaman po niya na ako po ay taga-Mindanao at ako po ay isang Muslim—sabi niya, parang kulang sa history ‘yung presence ng Islam. Pero mayroon na akong naisulat or mga anecdotes or historical background information and reference na ito ay magkakaroon ng celebration sa 2030. So with that small conversation, doon po lumabas yung usapan namin para sa commemoration. That was just only March 3 of this year at wala pa pong isang taon.

Tulad po ng sinabi ko kanina, napirmahan na po ng ating mahal na Presidente ang Administrative Order No. 10 na nagpapakita ng kaniyang pagpapahalaga sa Mindanao. I believe this is because the Marcoses have in fact been staunch supporters of the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage from the beginning. In fact, it must be noted that President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. himself visited this very mosque in 1980 for the 600th Anniversary of the establishment of Islam in the Philippines. Not only that, he also declared it a national cultural treasure. We are blessed that his son, PBBM, is now continuing this legacy for Muslim Filipinos.

Para sa akin naman po, it is especially meaningful for me to be present here today as a Muslim Filipina to personally honor Sheikh Makhdum, whom we remember and thank for being the missionary who brought Islam to the Philippines, which led to the building of this first-ever mosque in the country here in Tubig Indangan, Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. This Mosque symbolizes the introduction of Islam to the country and its pillars—which have remained intact for centuries—are a testament to our people's rich history.

For us, Muslim Filipinos, this is an integral part of our narrative and our identity. And weaving this into our nation’s history bridges religious and cultural gaps, and ultimately, promotes national unity.

I believe this is the message that the President and the NHCP are trying to impart—that Philippine Muslim history is and always will be an essential part of Philippine history. This is in line with the resounding call of the PBBM Administration to foster unity in the country amid our diversity.

Napakahalaga po ng ganitong mga selebrasyon upang mas mapalawak ang kamalayan ng ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na ng ating mga kabataan, sa iba pa pong panig ng bansa tungkol sa kasaysayan nating mga Muslim Filipino. Hangad ko po na ito ay magbigay-daan upang yakapin ng mas maraming Pilipino ang ating kultura sa kabila ng ating mga pagkakaiba at magkaroon ng mas malawak na pag-unawa sa isa't isa tungo sa ating kapayapaan at pagkakaisa.

We believe that it is through unity that we will successfully achieve our Agenda for Prosperity. At bilang Budget Secretary na tubong Mindanao, makakaasa po kayo na sisiguraduhin kong palaging kasama ang Mindanao sa pagkamit ng adyendang ito.

I, together with the whole Department of Budget and Management, remain committed to the realization of a Muslim Mindanao that is thriving, and economic growth that is truly inclusive—one that reaches even the farthest ends of the country, including Tawi-Tawi.

Attesting to this commitment, we have fully released the Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Block Grant to assist BARMM in achieving meaningful autonomy and lasting peace in the region. On top of this, we have also released Php 5.0 billion to fund the rehabilitation of conflict-ridden communities.

Our continuing capacity-building training and assistance to BARMM Public Financial Management (PFM) practitioners complement this. Just last month, we successfully conducted the PFM Competency Program, covering eight ministries of different BARMM provincial offices such as Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Maguindanao.

I am also proud to share that the House of Representatives approved the FY 2024 General Appropriations Bill on third and final reading, wherein some Php 80.6 billion is allocated for financial assistance to BARMM. And this includes the Annual Block Grant with Php 70.5 billion, reflecting an increase of 9.0 percent from 2023.

Meanwhile, Php 5.3 billion has been allotted to the PAMANA or the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn Program for infrastructure development in BARMM. This will be implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.

I am also happy to share that under the 2024 proposed national budget, the NHCP will receive not just Php 1 million, not just Php 100 million, but Php 250.78 million, of which Php 57.01 million will be used to support its Historical Commemoration and Promotion Program, and some Php 5.5 million for its Philippine Muslim History Project.

Hangad po namin na ang budget na ito ay makatulong sa mga inisyatibo ng Komisyon upang patuloy po nating mabigyang-halaga at mapagyaman pa ang ating kasaysayan.

As we look back at the beginnings of Islam in our country, let us find inspiration in our rich heritage, that Mindanao may finally transform from a land of promises to a land of promises fulfilled. May peace and prosperity in the dawn of the new Philippines—ang Bagong Pilipinas—be with us all. Inshallah.

Once again, congratulations on the unveiling of the Historical Marker of the Sheikh Makhdum Mosque.

Bilang anak ng Mindanao, mga kapatid ko po kayo, at napakasaya ko po na makapiling kayo dito sa Simunul ngayong 643rd Sheik Makhdum Day at mabigyan ng karangalan ang ating mga ninuno. Maraming, maraming salamat po.

Mabuhay ang Tawi-Tawi! Mabuhay ang BARMM at ang mga Pilipinong Muslim! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

To our GPPB-TSO Executive Director Atty. Rowena Candice M. Ruiz and our Procurement Service-DBM Executive Director Atty. Dennis S. Santiago;

To our senior officials from various government agencies and fellow public servants;

World Bank Senior Procurement Specialist Mr. Dominic Aumentado;

And our other stakeholders, guests, ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning. Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

I am very honored and delighted to welcome all of you to this year’s Procurement Summit where we strengthen collaborations and networks among procuring entities, suppliers, contractors, and consultants to help level the procurement needs of the government with the local market.

This year, we take our Procurement Summit to the next level guided by our theme, "Building a Cadre of Procurement Professionals as Catalysts for Innovation and Competitiveness."

And this is very timely, as we continue to push for the enactment of a stronger Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA)—one that is more attuned to the changing times, and responsive to the evolving needs of our people.

In line with the government’s bureaucratic efficiency and digital transformation agenda, we will leverage the adoption of digitalization and innovation in the new GPRA to make public procurement more efficient and transparent.

I also encourage everyone, especially GPPB-TSO, PS-DBM, and our procurement practitioners to make use of data science and data analytics to ensure that our policies are done and prepared, executed based on facts, and are data-driven.

Under its System of Accountability, we will ensure the professionalization of procurement officials. In fact, we will strengthen the institutional framework of the GPPB and GPPB-TSO to align its organizational structure and staffing with the technical and administrative support needed to implement all the procurement reforms in the bill.

And this Procurement Summit will take us one step closer to our vision of forging our path toward excellence and competitiveness. 

I am excited to share that in this two-day Summit, we will have a Procurement Clinic for our stakeholders, as well as an exhibition of innovative products and services, including booths from the GPPB-TSO team and PhilGEPS.

And for the first time, we have partnered with state universities and colleges in our campaign for the professionalization of procurement system, anchored on the results of the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS) initiative spearheaded by the World Bank and the Development Assistance Committee.

We have likewise curated several breakout sessions for Procuring Entities, Civil Society Organizations, MSMEs, and contractors—true to our pursuit of an open government.

As you can see, the GPPB-TSO has been doing its best to realize its vision to become a center of excellence for an innovative, responsive, and sustainable public procurement system.

To our dear stakeholders, I hope you will join us in reinforcing a procurement system that will bring us closer to our goal of a new Philippines—one where the government is trusted by the very people it has sworn to serve.

Thank you again for your service and congratulations on your 5th Procurement Summit! Mabuhay ang GPPB-TSO!

Wabillahi Tawfiq Wal Hidaya, Wasalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.