DBM Begins Budget Preparation for Fiscal Year 2018 with Budget Forum

On the 18th of January, the 17th of January, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) kicked off its budget preparation process for Fiscal Year 2018 with a Budget Forum held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

In his opening remarks, Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno emphasized the importance of the budget call for 2018 as it will “put flesh and blood to the 0+10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda” of the Duterte Administration.

Furthermore, he reminded the DBM that the end goal of the budget call is to fulfill the appropriate role of government, and ultimately, serve the Filipino people. Hence, “the 2018 national budget should contain the narrative of our citizens.”

The guidelines on budget preparation were also discussed. Salient points include increased utilization of technology to better track and prepare the budget, further disaggregation of lump sums for transparency and informed policy-making, and the prioritization of infrastructure projects for new programs to be proposed in the agency budgets.

The 2018 National Expenditure Program is set to be submitted to Congress two weeks before President Duterte delivers his second State of the Nation Address on July 24, 2017. (DBM)