Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Thursday called on the private sector to help the government in improving public services to fast-track the country’s economic recovery.

Pangandaman made the call in a video message delivered to the Public Sector Quality and Productivity Improvement Forum (PSQPIF) organized by the Development Academy of the Philippines.

“Today’s event is anchored on the Government Quality Management Program which aims to ensure citizen satisfaction through government-wide quality improvement and building capacities across public sector organizations. In other words, it is designed to steer the bureaucracy towards a more ‘citizen-centered service delivery’,” she said in her keynote speech.

“I want my message to revolve around the main stakeholders that will help us advance public service to accelerate the country’s recovery and transformation. They are our allies whose insights could be integrated into our ideas on how we could improve our productivity,” Pangandaman added.

The official stressed the importance of stronger cooperation and collaboration among the private sector, the government, and the Filipino people to ensure “improved productivity, innovation, and inclusive engagement.”

The government, she said, must act on public concerns “decisively, intelligently, and with the utmost integrity.”

“We must not be fixated on the work that needs to be done but on what we want to see for our people—better lives because of well-thought and strategic reforms,” she said, as she encouraged them to be proactive learners and teachers.

Improving public service

To improve government productivity and delivery of public service, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is pursuing “structural reforms” that are vital in uplifting Filipinos’ lives, Pangandaman said.

She cited the DBM’s prioritization of the proposed 2023 national budget, support for digital transformation, and the development of the Budget and Treasury Management System as among the agency’s initiatives.

“Through these, we hope that the whole government will be able to provide the quality of public service that every Filipino deserves, not only because they are taxpayers who fund these projects, but most importantly because they are people who have the right to live decent lives, and whom we gave the oath to serve when we chose to become public servants,” Pangandaman said.

“Let’s all learn from each other and work towards a better Philippines for all,” she said.

The PSQPIF 2022 aims to facilitate mutual cooperation and collaboration among government agencies and the private sector in promoting quality in public service.

Dev’t plans for Bangsamoro region

Meanwhile, Pangandaman, also serving as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) composed of leaders from both the national and Bangsamoro governments, vowed to address issues concerning the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The DBM said she will work with the Bangsamoro government to ensure peace and security, as well as achieve inclusive and sustainable development in BARMM and the entire Mindanao.

“What’s good here is the whole-of-government approach, lahat po ay tumutulong para maging successful ang ating BARMM (everyone is working with each other to make BARMM successful),”

Pangandaman said in her closing remarks after the IGRB’s meeting in Davao City on Thursday.

Created by virtue of Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019, the IGRB is mandated to coordinate and resolve issues between the two governments through regular consultation and continuing negotiation.

Aside from the IGRB, the Bangsamoro Organic Law has placed several mechanisms such as the creation of the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum and the Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board to strengthen intergovernmental relations (IGR).

Pangandaman said all IGR mechanisms have been created and will be implemented by yearend.

The Philippine Congress – Bangsamoro Parliament Forum held its first meeting in November to discuss legislative issues and concerns, while the Intergovernmental Fiscal Policy Board convened on Thursday.

Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., who joined Pangandaman in the meeting in Davao City, said the President fully supports the IGRB, as well as the policies for local development in BARMM.

Lagdameo said the current administration aims to help the Bangsamoro leaders to ensure that all mechanisms are in place. (PNA)