The Department of Budget and Management has strengthened its partnership with civil society leaders to help align and shape the country’s fiscal priorities, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to open, transparent and participatory governance.
Speaking at the Fiscal Priorities and Economic Dialogue: A DBCC-Civil Society Outlook held on July 15 at the DBM Central Office, Acting Budget Secretary De Leon said meaningful reforms and sound fiscal policies require continuous dialogue and genuine collaboration between the government and the people it serves.
“At the Department of Budget and Management, we believe that listening is also public service,” De Leon said.
“Every meaningful reform begins with one simple act—the willingness to listen,” he added.
Organized by the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the Philippine Open Government Partnership, the dialogue gathered representatives from government, civil society organizations, the business sector, policy research institutions and the academe.
Participants exchanged views on the country’s medium-term macroeconomic outlook, fiscal program and key budget priorities.
The initiative builds on a series of government-civil society engagements launched under the PH-OGP and forms part of the DBM’s efforts to institutionalize citizen participation in fiscal governance and strengthen policymaking through evidence-based dialogue.
De Leon said government institutions become stronger when policies are guided not only by technical expertise and data but also by the experiences, perspectives and constructive feedback of citizens and stakeholders.
“We cannot build better governance alone. We need you—not only as our partners and collaborators—but also as constructive critics who continuously challenge us to improve,” he said.
He added that meaningful engagement between the government and stakeholders ultimately leads to better public policies and improved outcomes for Filipinos.
“Every conversation we share today is an investment in better governance. And every better decision we make together brings us one step closer to the kind of government our people deserve,” De Leon said.