Three years into the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Budget and Management, led by Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman, continues to drive vital reforms that support sustainable and inclusive growth.

A landmark achievement under President Marcos Jr.’s term is the enactment of the New Government Procurement Act — the country’s biggest anti-corruption measure to date. It modernizes procurement processes and boosts transparency, featuring the eMarketplace, where agencies can “add to cart” essential goods and services. This innovation reduces procurement time from the usual 4 to 6 months to just 7 to 30 days!

In October 2024, the DBM launched the Public Financial Management Reforms Roadmap. At its core is the adoption and implementation of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) — a digital platform unifying budgeting, treasury, accounting, and reporting functions.

Meanwhile, the Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS), an integral part of the IFMIS, was likewise launched in 2024. It is a centralized database for all government financial operations from purchase to payment, allowing for real-time transaction monitoring and accurate budget execution.

Through the Philippine Open Government Partnership, the DBM remains committed to transparency and citizen engagement. As a result, the Philippines ranked 1st in budget transparency in Asia and 15th globally in the 2023 Open Budget Survey.

To further institutionalize openness, the DBM is advocating for the passage of the Right to Information Bill, which promotes proactive disclosure, data accuracy, whistleblower protection, and combats disinformation.

The DBM also champions efficiency through the Government Optimization Act, which seeks to streamline agency operations and organizational structures. It is a reform mechanism designed to enhance the government’s institutional capacity. This is consistent with the President’s directive for the government to function better and more efficiently, and to make transacting by the public easier, simpler, safer, and more secure.

In line with the President’s directive, Executive Order 64 was issued in 2024, raising the salaries of government workers and, for the first time, granting an annual Medical Allowance of up to P7,000, effective in 2025.

For the first half of the administration’s term, we have successfully laid the groundwork for sustainable economic development.

Under the Bagong Pilipinas, the DBM, led by Secretary Mina Pangandaman, remains steadfast in managing public resources wisely and equitably — building a brighter, more prosperous future where no Filipino is left behind.