To sustain economic growth, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said efforts must be made to enhance digital governance in the country.

Speaking before participants of the Mindanao League of Local Budget Officers (MLLBO) Annual Conference and Seminar in Zamboanga City on Monday, Pangandaman cited how the Philippine economy grew by 7.6 percent during the July to September period, faster than the 7.5 percent growth in the second quarter of 2022.

Pangandaman attributed the growth to the reopening of the economy after a series of restrictions on mobility coupled with the country’s good tax performance.

“We hope to sustain this growth, if not surpass it, and we believe that enhancing our digital governance will play a crucial role in achieving this,” Pangandaman said.

“Since the beginning of my term as Secretary, the institutionalization of budget reforms and digitalization of our public financial management or PFM have always been my top priorities. In the same manner, enhancing bureaucratic efficiency and sound fiscal management is highlighted in our 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda,” she added.

Pangandaman also said investing in digital infrastructure will allow the government to improve its revenue collection which will promote transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

“As a testament to our commitment to ensuring a clean and efficient bureaucracy, we have allocated some PHP12.47 billion in the 2023 Proposed National Budget for the digitalization of government services,” she said.

Pangandaman has repeatedly underscored the importance of shifting to e-governance to help the government give Filipinos comfortable lives.

In his first State of the Nation Address delivered on July 25, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged Congress to pass the proposed E-Governance Act, which promotes the use of the internet, intranet and other information and communication technology (ICT) to provide opportunities for citizens

With the theme “Strengthening Local Government Public Financial Management (PFM) thru Digitalization,” the three-day conference brings together Local Government Unit (LGU) officials and employees from different provinces, cities, and municipalities in Mindanao. More than 500 participants were in attendance as of the end of the event’s first day.

On the same day, the Budget chief visited the DBM Region 9 (Zamboanga) Office to grace the celebration of its 45th anniversary.

She was joined by DBM Undersecretary for Local Government and Regional Operations Group Wilford Will Wong, DBM Undersecretary for Media Affairs, Community Relations and Internal Audit Goddes Hope Libiran, DBM Assistant Secretary Achilles Gerard Bravo, and DBM Region Office 9 Director Mark Louie Martin. (PNA)