Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson voiced support for the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s platform to make the national budget transparent and accessible to the public, even as he offered suggestions to strengthen them.
Lacson, an eagle-eyed watchdog of the national budget, particularly inquired on whether the DBM has the technology to track changes in the crafting of the national budget, including proponents of amendments.
“Is there any current technology available to keep your system transparent yet secure, to enable us in both houses of Congress to track movements of the budget, from what is provided by the National Expenditure Program and going forward, to track who proposed which amendments to the General Appropriations Act?” he said in a mix of English and FIlipino at the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
In Filipino: Lacson Suporta ang Inisyatiba ng DBM para sa Budget Transparency, Itinulak ang Mas Malakas na Digital Tracking
He noted that the Senate has set up a system to track changes in the budget, although he is not sure if the House of Representatives has one.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said they presently have the capability to track changes from the NEP to the GAA, but may not be able to see the proponents of amendments unless they are provided minutes of the proceedings.
Pangandaman suggested that the Senate, House and DBM sign an agreement allowing their systems to communicate with each other.
Meanwhile, Lacson also suggested that the DBM expand its digital budget management roadmap including Project TINA (Technical Innovations in the National Expenditure Program Application), which aims to replace the existing NEP generation tool.
Pangandaman had indicated the project, named after the late DBM Undersecretary and OIC Tina Canda, aims “to create a unified system to automate the budget process between the Executive and the Legislative branches.”
“Project TINA covers only the NEP. Can we expand it to go all the way?” Lacson said, to which Pangandaman replied, “we will do it.”
Lacson likewise pushed for greater transparency in the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB)’s procurement dashboard. He suggested that it includes geo-tagging for infrastructure projects.
“This is open to the public (although when updating data, it) should be accessible only to the agencies concerned. At least the public should know in their respective areas like the Sumbong sa Pangulo or DPWH websites,” he said.
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Lacson Suporta ang Inisyatiba ng DBM para sa Budget Transparency, Itinulak ang Mas Malakas na Digital Tracking
Todo suporta si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa mga hakbang ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) upang gawing mas transparent at accessible sa publiko ang pambansang budget, kasabay ng pagbibigay niya ng mungkahi para mas mapalakas ang mga ito.
Nagtanong si Lacson, na matagal nang kilala bilang masusing tagabantay ng pambansang budget, kung may kakayahang teknolohiya na ang DBM upang matukoy ang mga pagbabago sa proseso ng paggawa ng budget, kabilang na ang mga nagmungkahi ng amendments.
“Is there any current technology available para transparent yet secure sa inyong system to enable us here in both houses of Congress to track movement of the budget, from what is provided by NEP and going forward ma-track sino nag-propose ng amendments paglabas ng GAA?” tanong niya sa briefing ng Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
Binigyang-diin din niya na bagama’t may sistema na ang Senado upang masubaybayan ang mga pagbabago sa budget, hindi siya sigurado kung mayroon din ang Kamara.
Tugon ni DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, may kakayahan na silang subaybayan ang mga pagbabago mula sa National Expenditure Program (NEP) hanggang sa General Appropriations Act (GAA), ngunit hindi pa matutukoy kung sino ang mga nagmungkahi ng amendments kung walang opisyal na minutes ng mga pagdinig.
Iminungkahi ni Pangandaman na pumirma ng kasunduan ang Senado, Kamara at DBM upang magkaroon ng komunikasyon at koneksyon ang kani-kanilang mga sistema.
Samantala, iminungkahi naman ni Lacson na palawakin pa ng DBM ang digital budget management roadmap nito, kabilang ang Project TINA (Technical Innovations in the National Expenditure Program Application), na layong palitan ang kasalukuyang NEP generation tool.
Ipinaliwanag ni Pangandaman na ang proyekto, na ipinangalan sa yumaong DBM Undersecretary at OIC Tina Canda, ay naglalayong lumikha ng sistema para i-automate ang budget process sa pagitan ng ehekutibo at lehislatura.
“Pero ang cover niya, NEP lang. Pwedeng i-expand natin all the way?” ani Lacson, na sinagot naman ni Pangandaman ng: “we will do it.”
Bukod dito, hinimok din ni Lacson ang mas mataas na antas ng transparency sa procurement dashboard ng Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB). Kabilang sa mungkahi niya ang pagdaragdag ng geo-tagging para sa mga infrastructure projects.
“This is open to the public (although when updating data, it) should be accessible only to the agencies concerned. At least the public should know in their respective areas like the Sumbong sa Pangulo or DPWH websites,” aniya.
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