DBM says gov’t committed to budget transparency

The Philippine government remains transparent in terms of its fiscal policies, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Monday.

"Under a regime of a transparent, accountable, and participatory governance, we should be able to design and implement a budget that truly reflects the needs and preferences of society and its people," Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno was quoted as saying in a statement.

Citing data from the Open Budget Survey released by the International Budget Partnership in January, Diokno said the Philippines currently has a transparency score of 67.

With this, the Philippines is ranked 19th out of 115 countries in terms of transparency. It is also the first in Asia.

"(C)itizens are able to engage with government officials, and ultimately, influence how the government is run," Diokno said.

President Rodrigo Duterte last year signed into law the P3.767-trillion budget for 2018, the second to be passed under his administration.

This is 12.4 percent higher than the 2017 national budget, as it seeks to finance the government's ambitious infrastructure spending program, among others. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News