Pangandaman Lauded for Advancing PFM Reforms

The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) Secretariat, headed by Srinivas Gurazada, lauded Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary and Public Financial Management (PFM) Committee Chairperson Amenah F. Pangandaman during the launch of the PEFA++ and Disaster Resilient and Responsive (DRR) PFM Assessments at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on October 7, 2024. 

"Good PFM reforms happen only if the commitment in government at leadership level and at technical level is strong. That’s exactly what I see in the Philippines for having a glorious trajectory in PFM reforms going forward," Gurazada stated.  

Gurazada also emphasized that Secretary Pangandaman’s visit to the PEFA Secretariat in Washington, D.C. in April to discuss PFM reforms underscores the government’s dedication to revolutionizing the Philippines' PFM landscape.

During the ceremonial launch of the PFM Reforms Roadmap 2024-2028 held on the same day, October 7, ADB Country Director for Philippines Pavit Ramachandran credited Secretary Pangandaman and the entire Economic Team for spearheading the development of the roadmap, noting that the three key elements fundamental to achieving the reforms include a strong leadership, a committed PFM community, and a clear vision.

The PEFA++ and DRR-PFM assessment is a multi-framework assessment leveraging the diverse expertise of macroeconomists, financial experts, and other stakeholders. This highly collaborative process will thoroughly assess the state and health of the country’s PFM system and its responsiveness to gender, climate, and disaster risk reduction. 

“Indeed, we have made significant progress, but we should also recognize that there is always room to do better and further elevate our efforts,” Secretary Pangandaman highlighted in her message.  

Meanwhile, DBM Undersecretary Maria Francesca M. Del Rosario engaged in a dialogue with Mr. Francis Capistrano of the United Nations Development Programme and Mr. Davit Melikyan of World Bank to discuss expectations and support from the development partners. 

The PEFA launch also featured a panel discussion on the lessons learned from previous PEFA Assessments with National Treasurer