Digital transformation is the core of the reform agenda of the Department of Budget and Management, Budget chief Amenah Pangandaman said on Monday.

The DBM has laid out several important strategic priorities to address existing gaps in open and inclusive governance during the Pilipinas Conference 2022 at the Ayala Museum.

Here, Pangandaman emphasized the need to leverage digital interventions, as well as the DBM's Open Government and Digitalization Efforts, as part of the sustainable development programs under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration towards promoting transparency and accountability.

"Our country needs to fully embrace and transition to digitalization, especially in government processes and business models. This is why at the Department of Budget and Management, digital transformation is at the core of our reform agenda," she said.

The Budget Secretary highlighted three strategic priorities to promote digital transformation in the country, including energizing citizen participation in governance, investing in innovations to close the digital governance gap, and harnessing an agile government.

She likewise stressed the important role of the Philippine Open Government Partnership in energizing citizen participation.

"The DBM is in the process of establishing a CSO Desk to serve as the focal unit for all concerns related to public participation in the budget process, among others," she said.

"The DBM CSO Desk will be one of the avenues in providing capacity-building activities for CSOs to enable a more meaningful engagement. We target to roll this out by year-end," she added.