In a meeting between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on July 4, 2023 to discuss various areas of governance reform, procurement digitalization and analytics were identified as among the emerging strategic priorities of UNDP for its upcoming Country Programme for 2024-2028.
Specifically for PS-DBM, UNDP looks into the utilization of data and analytics in the development of an encompassing procurement dashboard aimed at strengthening the agency's service excellence and integrity as the government's central purchaser of Common-use Supplies and Equipment (CSE).
UNDP Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, DBM USec. Sasa Del Rosario, Procurement Service-DBM (PS-DBM) Executive Director Atty. Dennis Santiago, along with their respective officials, agreed to deepen the engagement and support identified plans of DBM and PS-DBM following their productive preliminary meeting.
The role of both DBM and PS-DBM in the participation of the Philippines in Open Government Partnership (OGP) was likewise highlighted, especially their efforts to localize OGP in the country.
It can be recalled that in March 2023, Atty. Santiago became one of the pioneers of the Open Contracting Community of Practice in the Asia Pacific, along with PS-DBM Director for Procurement Group Atty. Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong, following their attendance to the Open Government Leadership Collaborative — a project of OGP. They now join other representatives from the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Thailand in an ever-growing coalition of transformative leaders who advance the open government movement.
Photos courtesy of the Department of Budget and Management
The meeting also explored possible collaborations on participatory governance, digitalization, budget reforms, transparency and accountability, green and sustainable public procurement, and circular economy, among others.
In his statement, Mr. Ramachandran reiterated UNDP's thrust, "We would like to strengthen this partnership under your (Sec. Pangandaman) leadership and support the bold initiatives you are pursuing to promote effective fiscal management for inclusive and sustainable development."