MANILA, Philippines – INATASAN ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na paghusayin ang budget information matapos na matuklasan sa isinagawang assessment na limitado lamang ang pananaw ng mga mambabatas sa kung paano sinusuportahan ng development cooperation spending ang Philippine Development Plan.
“The Philippines scored 0.8 out of 1 for providing Congress with development cooperation budget and financing information, in line with legal requirements,” ayon sa pinakabagong Philippine Action Plan for Effective Development Cooperation ng Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev).
Nag-ugat ang natuklasan mula sa Fourth Monitoring Round ng bansa sa ilalim ng Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC).
Sa kabila ng mataas na iskor, natuklasan sa ulat na “that unclear budget integration of development cooperation flows limited Congress’ supervision.”
“The highly technical nature of submitted budget documents, without sufficient contextual explanation, can limit legislators’ ability to fully appreciate their developmental value and alignment with national priorities,” ayon sa report, tinutukoy ang development cooperation-funded programs at mga proyekto.
Upang matugunan ang mga gap, dinagdagan ng DBM ang impormasyon na isinumite nito sa Kongreso, nagsimula sa pagbalangkas sa 2027 National Budget.
Magsusumite naman ang DBM ng panukalang P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget sa Kongreso sa loob ng 30 araw matapos ang pang-5 State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., sa Hulyo 27.
Sa ilalim ng action plan ng DEPDev, maghahanda ang DBM ng supplementary analytical materials para isama sa National Expenditure Program (NEP), Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) at Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF).
Hinihikayat din nito ang convergence budgeting sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita kung paano ihanay ng gobyerno ang official development assistance (ODA), grants at locally-funded programs kasama ng national priorities, vulnerable groups, at priority areas na hindi binabago ang umiiral na budget approval processes.
“Through these measures, the action supports informed legislative review, reinforces democratic oversight of development cooperation-related resources, and improves the strategic alignment and coherence of budget decisions over the medium term, while operating fully within established fiscal, planning, and institutional frameworks,” ayon sa DepDev. KRIS JOSE
