In preparing budget, Palace widens consultations

Malacanang is broadening consultations with civil society as it kicks off the process of preparing the national budget for 2013.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said in a statement that six departments and three agencies of the government would consult with civil society organizations.

This figure is more than the number of government entities that had participated in consultations when the 2012 budget was being prepared.

The new batch includes departments of environment, local government, justice, labor, tourism, and transportation and communication as well

as the Land Rail Transit Authority, National Electrification Administration, and National Irrigation Administration.

Pioneers in consulting with CSOs on the budget were six departments including those of education, health, social welfare, public works, agriculture, and agrarian reform.

There were also three pioneer agencies, including the National Food Authority, National Housing Authority and National Home Mortgage

Finance Corporation.

“Expanding the reach of our CSO engagement activities is part of the government’s commitment to the Open Government Partnership, of which the Philippines is an active member-country,” Abad said.

This year’s budget is a product of consultations with CSOs, which proved to be very productive, he added. “It allowed the people—represented by civic groups—to air their concerns and suggestions on public expenditure and become active participants in the budget preparation process.”

Earlier this week, the budget chief said Malacañang approved the preparation of the 2013 budget to ensure prompt implementation of government programs and the quick delivery of key services.

“As the President broke ground with the earliest budget signing since (martial law), so do we follow suit with the early preparation of the proposed budget for 2013,” Abad said. “We are establishing this as the Aquino administration’s new tradition of early budget preparation, so that subsequent national budgets will be enacted and implemented quickly.”