Revised NEPF: Embracing a culture of evaluation

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Our government, under the strong and visionary leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM), continues to innovate and find ways to improve systems and processes, enhancing policies that will make public services targeted and more responsive.

- DBM SECRETARY AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN

Thus, I am glad to note that on April 14, 2025, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), formerly the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), led the ceremonial signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on the Revised National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF).

As I was signing the Circular, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in this accomplishment and of purpose since we are taking another leap towards a more open government that upholds and promotes evidence-based decision-making, transparency, accountability, and good governance.

During the signing of the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act, PBBM emphasized, “Cognizant that our resources are finite and our people’s needs are plenty, we need to carefully curate the particulars of the budget.”

Aligned with this, I believe that beyond planning and budgeting, evaluation of programs, activities, and projects is equally critical in ensuring that these positively impact our people. In this regard, the JMC on the Revised NEPF is a win for our nation.

You see, over the years, the DBM and DEPDev have implemented various reform initiatives and policy measures to enhance the integration of planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation to promote results-oriented planning and governance.

From DBM's end, an important aspect of our budget cycle is the accountability phase, which includes audits, mid-year and year-end reports, performance reviews, and citizen engagement.