How digital transformation restores trust in government

BEYOND BUDGET

- AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Technology is often reduced to systems, devices, websites, and applications. But at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), during my time as secretary, technology came to mean something far more transformative. It became a powerful tool to bring government closer to the people— faster, fairer, more transparent, and more humane.

For many years, outdated and fragmented processes slowed the delivery of services that Filipinos depend on most. When budget releases took too long, children waited for school materials, farmers missed planting seasons, and families in disaster-stricken areas endured painful delays in assistance. These experiences made one truth unmistakable: Modernizing government is essential to improving lives.

At DBM, we embraced digitalization as areform that serves the public good. This was never about technology forits own sake. Itwas about using innovation to strengthen governance, reinforce accountability, widen transparency, and enable citizens to better understand—and trust—how public resources are managed.

This commitment shaped a deliberate reform agenda, beginning with the DBM Digital Transformation Roadmap (2022-2026). The roadmap provided a clear direction for modernizing systems, integrating data, and preparing the bureaucracy for the future. It anchored reform not only in technology, but also in policy—recognizing that lasting change requires institutions that allow innovation to thrive.