The country’s Budget chief on Friday reiterated the Marcos administration’s commitment to digitalize government processes, records, and databases, stressing that some P12.47 billion of the 2023 national budget was proposed for the agenda.
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amehan Pangandaman expressed the agency’s full support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s e-governance goal that promotes bureaucratic efficiency.
“In support of the Administration’s thrust for a lean, efficient, and responsive government workforce — the FY 2023 Proposed National Budget will facilitate the transformation and digitalization of the government to streamline the bureaucracy,” Pangandaman said during the four-day Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines Inc.’s Annual National Convention Seminar.
The Budget secretary said the proposed budget for the e-governance program includes the improvement of revenue collection through digitalization, with the Department of Finance receiving an allocation of P3.56 billion.
“The DICT was allocated P4.72 billion for its ICT Systems and Infostructure Development, Management, and Advisory Program, which includes funding for the implementation of the National Government Data Center Infrastructure and the National Government Portal to connect government departments and improve its accessibility,” she explained.
Moreover, she expressed that the DBM fully understands the value of digitalizing public financial management systems.
Pangandaman said the programs aim to strengthen the integrity of our systems, diminish human discretion, expedite inter-agency coordination, and ensure the efficient delivery of public services.
She also mentioned that the DBM is working towards the enactment of the Budget Modernization Bill to cover the development and implementation of the Budget and Treasury Management System and the gradual implementation of the cash budgeting system.