DBM To Digitize Budget Releases In 2023

The Philippines government expects to fully digitalize budget allocation releases to various agencies in the first quarter of 2023.

The Department of Budget and Management is boosting its digitalization efforts for the release of action documents such as special allotment release orders, notices of cash allocation (NCA), and notices of organization, staffing, and compensation action.

Budget chief Amenah Pangandaman said this effort is part of the government’s plan to prioritize digital transformation to reach bureaucratic efficiency.

Pangandaman said digitalization would also reduce business costs and promote transparency and accountability.

President Marcos recently signed the 2023 budget allotting ₱300 billion for digitalization programs in various national government agencies.

Meanwhile, DBM has started its digital transformation initiatives after signing agreements with three authorized government servicing banks to implement online NCA releases.

NCAs are disbursement orders by the DBM to government banks servicing the release of funds to agencies. Government agencies are expected to use the NCAs to pay for the cash requirements of their programs and projects.

“Through the digital initiative, we will be able to save millions worth of expenses by reducing costs on security paper, printing, supplies, and transportation expenses for physical claiming of documents by agency representatives,” Pangandaman said.

“So, we don’t have to print the papers. So, hopefully, until the first quarter of next year, all DMB releases will be digital, no more hard copies,” she added.

The release of online NCAs will course through the DBM’s Action Document Releasing System (ADRS), a web app facilitating the release of approved digital DBM action documents directly to authorized users of recipient agencies.

NCA releases are the most necessary aspect for budget execution in the Philippines.

It covers almost all public sector disbursements and will show how the national government utilizes budget allocations.

Thus, it is considered among the most critical processes for digitalization in the public sector.

Pangandaman said the DBM is also investing in cybersecurity to ensure that digital processes will be protected from criminal or unauthorized use.

Source: Philstar