Finance Secretary Ralph Recto asked public officials to develop a unified policy for a comprehensive digital transformation for public services.
The initiative aligns with President Marcos Jr.’s vision for a “Bagong Pilipinas” where technology improves public services, making them faster, easier and more efficient, he said.
Recto recognized the Public Management Development Program (PMDP) as an important addition to the government’s toolkit in developing a unified policy direction for the comprehensive digital transformation of public services.
PMDP is the Philippine government’s intensive training program that provides comprehensive learning opportunities for those in public service, helping them understand the vital role government officers play in the development process.
Program participants are equipped with leadership and management skills to raise competent public servants.
It is overseen by an Inter-Agency Steering Committee composed of the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Career Executive Service Board (CESB)
Recto urged public leaders to use the program as a platform for exchanging insights and experiences to identify and implement best practices towards achieving a digitally transformed and future-proof Philippine government.
He said the DOF responded to the President’s call and made substantial progress in embracing digitalization.
Both the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) established electronic tax payment and filing channels along with modernized customs processes that helped enhance tax collection and administration, strengthen trade facilitation, curb corruption and improve the business climate in the country.
“It underpins the government’s assurance of a reliable revenue stream. More significantly, it has been instrumental in delivering on the government’s promise of efficient and excellent taxpayer service, ensuring that the hard-earned contributions of our people translate into tangible value,” Recto said.