There has been growing evidence that the best way to improve the management of public finances is through budget systems that are transparent, open to public engagement and scrutiny, and that have robust oversight institutions and mechanisms. Launched in 2006 by the International Budget Partnership, the Open Budget Survey (OBS) is the world’s only independent, comparative, and fact-based research instrument to measure these essential aspects of governance and accountability: transparency, oversight and public participation.

The OBS is part of the International Budget Partnership’s Open Budget Initiative, a global research and advocacy program to promote public access to budget information and the adoption of inclusive and accountable budget systems. All people in a country should have access to relevant information on how public resources are raised and spent, opportunities to contribute to policy decisions that affect their livelihoods and futures, and assurance of robust budget oversight by independent well-informed legislatures and audit institutions.

A country’s budget transparency score, reflected on the Open Budget Index, assesses the public’s access to information on how the central government raises and spends public resources. A transparency score of 61 (out of 100) or higher indicates a country is likely publishing sufficient material to support informed public debate on the budget.

In this regard, De La Salle University – Institute of Governance, in partnership with the International Budget Partnership and Stratbase ADR Institute, organized a presentation of the “The 2019 Open Budget Survey: How did the Philippines Perform?”, held on 9 October 2020, Friday, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Program

Welcoming Remarks

Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC
Chancellor, De La Salle University

Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit
President, Stratbase ADR Institute

Presentation

2019 Open Budget Survey: How did the Philippines Perform?
Dr. Francisco A. Magno
OBS Country Expert, International Budget Partnership

Discussion

Sec. Wendel E. Avisado
Department of Budget and Management

Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara
Chairperson, Senate Committee on Finance

Atty. Michael G. Aguinaldo
Chairperson, Commission on Audit

Open Forum

Moderator:
Ms. Justine Espina-Letargo
Communications Consultant, Asian Development Bank

Closing Remarks

Dr. Ador R. Torneo
Director, De La Salle University – Institute of Governance