On 12-13 July 2018, Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), in partnership with UNICEF Philippines, conducted a learning session focused on the “Effectiveness and Efficiency in Public Finance Management” on public budgeting for children’s rights.
The learning session was attended by 39 participants from 25 child and human rights organizations and nine representatives from government agencies from various parts of the Philippines. Speakers from child rights organizations and government agencies presented different topics in relation to public budgeting for children.
In discussing the effectiveness of child rights budgeting, Save the Children Philippines Child Rights Governance Adviser Minerva Cabiles discussed the importance of child rights responsive planning and the Philippine child rights situational analysis. Meanwhile, Chief of Policy and Planning Division of Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Consolacion Sevilla-Salcedo shared updates 3rd National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC).
The learning session also had a presentation from Clarrisa T. Bautista, Senior Budget and Management Specialist, Fiscal Planning and Reforms Bureau of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to provide updates on the current mechanisms in budget monitoring the national Budget.
The discussion on effectiveness also tackled the monitoring of child rights-related commitments of the Philippines in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mary Anne E.R. Darauay, Director IV of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) discussed the implementation and monitoring mechanisms on Child Rights-related SDGs in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). Meanwhile, Wilma A. Guillen the Assistant National Statistician of the Philippine Statistic Association (PSA) presented the framework of coordination of PSA in monitoring the SDGs in the Philippines.
To learn more about efficient budgeting, the second learning session had presentations from Atty. Suzette Ganaban-Medina, the Chief Officer of the Department of Education (DepEd) MIMAROPA to discuss their experience in overcoming challenges in transforming the budget into goods and services that improve education outcomes. She was joined by DepEd’s Child Protection Focal Point Executive Assistant II Edna Fe Ramirez during the open forum.
Budget Inclusive and Development and Participatory Media Consultant Gichelle A. Cruz of the Philippine Commission on Women National GAD Resource Program Member and Gender gave a presentation on the long history of the gender sector in improving the efficient use of the Annual Gender and Development (GAD).
The second learning session also gathered feedback on the next steps for the project. Kristine Agnes Arban shared updates on the status of the resource material on public budgeting for children. The participants also gave their comments and recommendation on what the resource material should cover in regards to public budgeting for children.
The learning session ended with a workshop where participants discussed and shared the roles of civil society organizations in public budgeting for children at the local and national level.
CRC Asia and UNICEF Philippines conducted this learning session as part of their joint project titled “Knowledge-Enrichment Sessions and Resource Material Development on Public Finance Management for Children.” This activity is also supported by Plan International Asia Regional Office and Save the Children.
