The Philippines government’s budgeting practice allowing civil society groups and local governments to identify projects had won an award in New York City. In a statement Thursday, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the Philippines received the Gold Open Government Award for Grassroots Participatory Budgeting in the inaugural Open Government Partnership Awards last Sept. 24 at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
Along with Denmark and Montenegro, the Philippines was recognized for its "outstanding efforts to deepen citizen engagement in the budget process."
Grassroots Participatory Budgeting in the Philippines, which was implemented in 2012 and has expanded to 1,590 cities and municipalities, has resulted in a P21-billion allocation for 16,000 local projects that will be included in the next year’s budget.
Philippines is a founding member of Open Government Partnership, a movement of 64 governments and organizations seeking to deepen the practice of open government.
At a press briefing in Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the award serves as an "affirmation" that the Philippines is committed to institutionalizing citizen participation in the budget process. "We believe that legitimate civil society groups and other stakeholders on the local level should be given a chance to voice out their concerns and to identify projects that they believe will be beneficial for their own communities," she said.
- News courtesy of the GMA Website
