(Photo courtesy of PIA)
MANILA, Philippines – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on October 20, 2026, to establish the Public Financial Management (PFM) Micro-Credentialing Program aimed at improving the skills of government budget personnel.
The agreement was signed by DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon and DAP Acting President and CEO Leocadio Sebastian.
The initiative will provide government budget officers and analysts with competency-based training and certification to strengthen their technical knowledge, promote fiscal discipline, and improve the management of public funds.
The program seeks to equip government personnel responsible for budget planning, allocation, and oversight with the necessary skills to ensure efficient and accountable public spending.
The signing took place alongside the opening of the 67th Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Workshop Meeting of Heads of National Productivity Organizations, held from October 20 to 22 in Manila.
During his keynote address, De Leon emphasized that government spending should be measured not only by the amount of funds disbursed but also by its impact on people’s lives.
“At the DBM, we often remind ourselves that every peso has a human story. Behind every allocation is a student hoping for a better education, a patient waiting for treatment, a farmer trying to improve a livelihood, or a family seeking a better future,” De Leon said.
He also stressed the value of international collaboration and knowledge-sharing in improving government performance and public service delivery.
The DAP-DBM partnership aims to strengthen institutional capacity, promote continuous professional development, and ensure that public resources are managed responsibly to deliver better government services.
Also attending the event were DBM Assistant Secretary Gerald Janda, DAP Executive Vice President Magdalena Mendoza, and APO Secretary-General Indra Pradana Singawinata.
