The conduct of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Competency Program for Local Government Units (LGUs) continues in Legazpi City, where about 700 budget officers from the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon, and other cities and municipalities in Region V, were capacitated on PFM policies and reforms from March 6 to 8, 2024.
The PFMCP for LGUs is composed of three tracks on PFMCP foundation, budgeting, and procurement which are taught by subject-matter experts from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The sessions were led by DBM Undersecretary Margaux V. Salcedo who highlighted the government’s macroeconomic targets and budget priorities under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. Other subject-matter experts include Government Procurement Policy Board Technical Support Office (GPPB-TSO) Executive Director Rowena Candice M. Ruiz and DBM-Procurement Service Executive Director Dennis S. Santiago on procurement updates; DBM Systems and Productivity Improvement Bureau (SPIB) Director John Aries S. Macaspac on Internal Control and Internal Audit; and Local Government and Regional Coordination Bureau (LGRCB) Director Ryan S. Lita on Budget Authorization and Budget Overview.
Organized by the DBM, in partnership with the Association of Local Budget Officers in Region V Inc. (ALBOREV), the PFM Competency Program was designed to deepen the knowledge of local budget officers on different thematic areas such as budgeting, procurement, cash management, accounting, auditing, and even relationship management. Ultimately, the program aims to assist LGUs in fully utilizing their respective shares in the National Tax Allotment, among other budget allocations, and in providing quality public services to their constituents.
DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, who served as the keynote speaker, emphasized that the Department is complementing the efforts of LGUs and persistently working hard on ensuring that the National Budget will have felt and transformative results.
“Makakaasa po kayo na mas pagbubutihin pa po namin sa DBM at sisiguruhin namin na ang National Budget ay tunay na para sa Pilipino, upang patuloy na maihatid ng ating gobyerno hindi lamang ang capacity-building kundi ang mga serbisyo at proyekto mismo na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga pinaglilingkuran,” Sec. Mina said.
The conduct of the PFMCP for LGUs is aligned with the DBM’s commitment to improving the government’s spending efficiency by encouraging LGUs to practice sound fiscal management and allocative efficiency and ultimately, promote the timely and effective implementation of local programs and projects aimed at building a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society.
Sec. Mina was warmly welcomed by the local chief executives of Albay led by Governor Edcel Grex Lagman, as well as ALBOREV President Henry Quiñones, DBM Regional Office V Acting Director Antonio F. Villanueva Jr., and Assistant Director February E. Manuel.
(Source: DBM Press Release)