THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it would enforce strict rules on funds disbursement for year-end activities.
“Now that we are in the fourth quarter, surely there will be a surge in utilization because there will be parties left and right masquerading to be planning sessions,” Secretary Kim Robert de Leon said during the 58th Annual Conference of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines on Oct. 9.
De Leon added that some government agencies tend to increase spending by the end of the fiscal year.
“Please be assured that policy revisions will be out very soon, tightening government’s policy in ensuring that we spend our money wisely and for the benefit of our people,” he said.
De Leon noted that while strategic planning and official activities are necessary, the corresponding expenses should be reasonable.
“We have to admit, some of those started from a budget circular authorizing one to be conducted, and it just snowballed, and everyone loves doing strategic planning in hotels like this,” he said.
De Leon added that government performance should be measured by tangible output.
“Don’t just look at, ‘We spent 98 percent of budget.’ On what? We’re looking at quality of spending. You may be spending less but producing more in terms of output and even outcome,” he said.
