As part of the Philippine government’s ongoing efforts to modernize and strengthen its Public Financial Management (PFM) system, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently hosted a series of technical missions in collaboration with the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
These initiatives are aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of the country’s budget preparation processes and institutionalizing public asset management practices across the government.
World Bank Mission: Enhancing Public Asset Management
On April 30 and May 2, 2025, the World Bank held technical discussions with DBM officials focusing on the institutional framework and integration of public asset management into broader financial systems. The mission provided expert guidance on linking asset planning, budgeting, and accounting, with emphasis on aligning asset registries with the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
The mission was formally launched in a kick-off meeting led by DBM Undersecretary and Chief Information Officer Maria Francesca del Rosario and Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido III of the Organization and Systems Improvement Group.
“This collaboration is a critical step toward ensuring the financial coherence and sustainability of government assets,” said Undersecretary del Rosario. “A well-integrated asset management system supports better planning, valuation, and accountability across all levels of government.”
IMF Mission: Improving Budget Preparation Processes
From April 7 to 11, 2025, the IMF conducted a technical assistance mission focusing on refining the DBM’s budget preparation processes. Activities included stakeholder and process mapping, user interviews, design thinking workshops, and information validation.
“Our goal is to continuously improve how we plan and prepare the national budget to better reflect our development priorities and deliver public services more effectively,” said Undersecretary del Rosario. “With support from our partners, we are working to streamline procedures, eliminate bottlenecks, and enhance the quality of budget outcomes.”
This mission follows the IMF’s previous technical support in 2023, which assisted the government in its digital transformation efforts for budget preparation and execution, public investment management, and performance-based budgeting.
The DBM remains committed to pursuing institutional reforms and working closely with development partners to ensure a more responsive, data-driven, and citizen-focused public financial management system.
