Manila: The Philippines has brought together eight South and Southeast Asian countries to strengthen public finance systems and protect spending on education, health, nutrition, and social protection for children amid fiscal and climate pressures. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), with support from the European Union (EU) and UNICEF, hosted the South-South Exchange from Aug. 18 to 20.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DBM stated in a news release that the three-day meeting gathered representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The focus was on exchanging reforms and tools to improve the efficiency, transparency, and resilience of public spending. The discussions centered on how governments can sustain investments in children during periods of limited fiscal space and economic and climate shocks.
Participating countries shared approaches in budget tagging, expenditure tracking, and evidence-based planning to determine whether public resources are reaching priority services, including education, health, nutrition, child protection, and social protection. The exchange was part of the EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility in South and Southeast Asia, a regional platform supporting reforms in the planning, allocation, tracking, and use of public funds for children.
Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon emphasized the importance of investments in children, stating that spending should not be seen merely as a cost but as an investment in healthier lives, better opportunities, stronger communities, and ultimately, stronger nations. UNICEF Philippines Representative Kyungsun Kim highlighted that as the Philippines transitions to upper-middle-income status, the partnership ensures economic progress is matched by stronger public finance systems to achieve equitable outcomes for children.
The transition has increased the need to strengthen institutions and ensure efficient allocation of public resources to social services. EU Charg© d'Affaires Frederic Grillet noted that the partnership aligns with the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, focusing on investments in institutions, governance, and human capital. Since its launch in 2019, the EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility has provided technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and policy support to regional governments, backed by a 3-million-euro contribution from the EU.
The 2026 South-South Exchange concluded with participating countries identifying key lessons and reaffirming their commitment to reforms aimed at making public finance systems more responsive, accountable, and focused on results.
