UNICEF, EU, DBM seek to strengthen public finances for Filipino kids

The UNICEF, European Union (EU), and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have launched a joint Public Finance Facility—a cooperation program aimed at supporting targeted and concerted budgeting of public funds to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children in the Philippines.

This initiative ensures sustainable, protected, and transparent public spending on children and is carried out in collaboration with the Department of Finance–Bureau of Local Government Finance, the Council for the Welfare of Children, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health.

The Positive Youth Development Network and Social Watch Philippines will also take part in providing the perspectives of youth and civil society.

Beyond money

While the Philippines is poised to reach upper-middle-income status, vulnerabilities such as climate change, high disaster risk, and deep-seated inequalities persist.

The country ranks first in the region for climate and disaster risk, with children being particularly vulnerable.

Improved public finance bolsters social services and protection for children—critical during times when families cannot afford nutritious food, healthcare, or education.

In 2021, 52 percent (10.5 million) of those living in poverty in the Philippines were children.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao continues to face major child poverty gaps, with around 44 percent of children living in poverty.

Protecting public budgets and investments is essential—when budgets are cut or poorly used, children suffer the most.

"We thank our development partners, the EU and the UNICEF, for investing in our children—our future generation of leaders and nation-builders," said DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

"Indeed, we are keen on pushing forward education and other programs for the development of children and youth as a priority under the Agenda for Prosperity," Pangandaman added.

Key features

The facility will play a pivotal role in improving how social sector budgets are planned, allocated, and utilized—ensuring they are sufficient, efficient, equitable, and transparent at both the national and subnational levels.

According to UNICEF, the facility will support the development and implementation of systems for child-sensitive sectors, particularly for Early Childhood Care and Development, ensuring timely and efficient use of public funds.

It will also promote inter-agency coordination by ensuring government resources are used holistically to achieve shared goals.

Among its features is a budget tagging and tracking tool to strengthen subnational public finance systems, enabling local governments to better plan, budget, and deliver services for children.

The facility also seeks to increase child and adolescent participation in the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a multilateral initiative promoting transparency and better governance.

Through this, children will be empowered to take part in policy dialogues and budgeting decisions that affect their lives directly.

Collaborating for sustainable development

The public finance facility supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.

Massimo Santoro, Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive society.

"This facility will provide the necessary resources and support to ensure that children receive the care and protection they deserve," Santoro said.

"Beyond being a human rights concern, investing in the children of today is also a strategic choice—it means investing in the future of the Philippines," he added.

UNICEF Acting Representative Behzad Noubary emphasized that “children are at the heart of our mission.”

"This new facility represents a significant step toward improving public investments," Noubary said.

"In the longer term, we want to increase the coverage of social protection programs and family-friendly policies for children living in multidimensional poverty, so they can survive and thrive," he added.

The EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility will invest $6 million over three years to support the Philippines and seven other countries in South and Southeast Asia in ensuring public budgets work for children’s welfare.