Manila: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) underscored the importance of sustained engagement with civil society in crafting more responsive fiscal policies, as government and non-government stakeholders convened to discuss the country's medium-term economic outlook and budget priorities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon emphasized that meaningful reforms require continuous consultation and collaboration between the government and the public. Speaking during the "Fiscal Priorities and Economic Dialogue: A DBCC-Civil Society Outlook" at the DBM Central Office on Wednesday, De Leon stated, "At the Department of Budget and Management, we believe that listening is also public service." He further added, "Every meaningful reform begins with one simple act - the willingness to listen."
The dialogue, organized by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) and the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), brought together representatives from various sectors, including government agencies, civil society organizations, business groups, academic institutions, and policy research organizations. The event aimed to exchange views on the country's macroeconomic assumptions, fiscal program, and budget priorities.
The DBCC is the interagency body responsible for setting the government's macroeconomic assumptions, fiscal targets, and expenditure framework, which serve as the basis for the annual national budget. This activity is part of the government's ongoing efforts under the PH-OGP to institutionalize citizen participation in fiscal governance and promote transparency and accountability in public finance.
De Leon highlighted that government policies become more effective when shaped not only by technical analysis but also by the experiences and recommendations of stakeholders. "We cannot build better governance alone. We need you - not only as our partners and collaborators - but also as constructive critics who continuously challenge us to improve," he expressed. He also noted that regular consultations ultimately lead to better governance and improved public services.
DBM Undersecretary Wilford Will Wong, who also serves as senior supervising official of the PH-OGP Program Management Office, assured participants that the recommendations raised during the dialogue would be considered in future fiscal planning. "Every insight will be carefully documented and consolidated to actively show our next steps. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that your inputs refine our fiscal policies, making them more responsive, inclusive, and evidence-based," Wong said.
During the forum, DBM Assistant Secretary Romeo Matthew Balanquit, chairperson of the DBCC Executive Technical Board, presented the committee's latest approved medium-term macroeconomic assumptions and fiscal program. This was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the DBCC and participating organizations.
Participants included representatives from notable organizations such as the Makati Business Club, Action for Economic Reforms, IBON Foundation, People's Budget Coalition, Social Watch, Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and other civil society and academic institutions.
