The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in partnership with the Association of Local Budget Administrator Inc. – Cordillera Administrative Region (ALBA-CAR), has successfully engaged over 300 Public Financial Management (PFM) practitioners during the ninth run of the PFM Competency Program (PFMCP) for Local Government Units (LGUs) held in Baguio City and slated from July 3 to 5, 2024.

PFM practitioners from the provinces of Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Apayao, and the City of Baguio were capacitated on all stages of the budget process, from budget preparation to procurement and budget accountability. Specifically, the training covered sessions on Maintaining PFM Understanding, Principles of Internal Controls and Internal Audit, Relationship Management, Budget Preparation, Budget Authorization and Review, Budget Execution and Accountability, and Procurement.

DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, who delivered the keynote speech today, July 4, emphasized the important role of local PFM practitioners in delivering quality services to the people.

“As you may know, we at the Department of Budget and Management are persistently working hard to enhance our PFM system. That includes developing the capacities of our PFM practitioners—because you are the frontliners in delivering quality services to the people we have sworn to serve,” Secretary Pangandaman said.

Led by the Advocacy, Communications, and Training Service – Capacity Development Division of DBM, the PFMCP for LGUs is aligned with the agency’s commitment to improving the government’s spending efficiency by encouraging LGUs to practice sound and efficient management of their resources, especially their respective shares in the National Tax Allotment, and ultimately, promote the timely and effective implementation of local programs and projects.

Also present in the three-day program were DBM Undersecretaries Margaux V. Salcedo Wilford Will L. Wong and Goddes Hope O. Libiran, Government Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office Executive Director Atty. Rowena Candice M. Ruiz, Procurement Service-DBM Director Atty. Genmaries S. Entredicho-Caong, DBM CAR Regional Office Director Irene B. Gahid and Assistant Director Marie Christine D. Andaya, Systems Productivity and Improvement Bureau Director John Aries S. Macaspac, Local Government and Regional Coordination Bureau Director Atty. Ryan S. Lita and Assistant Director Atty. Philip Jeffrey D. David, and ALBA-CAR President Atty Leticia O. Clemente.

The event was also graced by Benguet Provincial Governor Melchor D. Diclas, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, and Mayors from the Municipalities of Saban, Kapangan, Atok, Kibungan, Itogon, Bakun, Yuba, Mankayan, La Trinidad, Lagayan, Santa Marcela and Pillar.