On 5-7 September 2018, Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia), in partnership with UNICEF Philippines, conducted the third learning session on public budgeting for children’s rights which focuses on the horizontal and vertical coordination of government units and agencies to ensure coordination between sub-national and national elements of the PFM.

Topics discussed in the learning session include local government financing; PFM at the barangay level and at the city/municipal level; local special bodies on child rights promotion and protection; and the convergence in local development planning and budgeting.

On the first day of the three-day learning session, Brenda Miranda the OIC Chief of Policy, Planning, Programming and Standards Divisions at the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Department of Finance (BLGF-DOF) discussed the resource mobilization program of Local Government Units (LGUs).

The afternoon session focused on PFM at the barangay level with discussion from the National Barangay Operations Office, Department of Interior and Local Government (NBOO-DILG) and Barangay Culiat.

Lovesita Daumar the Local Government Operations Officer V of NBOO-DILG presented on the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) planning and budgeting process.

Meanwhile, Aleli Bernardo the Children’s Desk Officer of Barangay Culiat shared the barangay’s BCPC best practices. She shared Barangay Culiat’s many programs and activities focused on protecting children and fulfilling other child rights. Bernardo was joined by Cristina Bernandino, Barangay Co-Chairperson of Barangay Culiat during the open forum.

The second day of the learning session had presentations on PFM at the city/municipality level and the local special bodies on child rights promotion and protection.

The morning session began with John Aries Macaspac, the Chief Budget and Management Specialist of the Local Government and Regional Coordination Bureau, Department of Budget and Management (LGRCB-DBM) discussing the city/municipal development planning and budget process.

Followed by a discussion on participatory of child-friendly local governance from Elma Patawe the Head of City Social Welfare and Development Office of the City Government of Tagaytay.

After the lunch break, the afternoon session began with a discussion on the local health board. Dr Salome Arinduque, the Municipal Health Officer of the Municipal Government of San Felipe, Zambales presented on San Felipe’s health board and local development planning.

The second day ended with a discussion on the Local Education Board and local development planning from Rex Ado the Education Program Supervisor of the City Government of Mandaluyong.

On the third day of the learning session, National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) Reynaldo Cancio the Director IV of the National Policy and Planning Staff discussed the development planning of the Philippine Development Plan.

The last day concluded with a roleplaying activity where the participants presented a skit reflecting issues and challenges in lobbying strategies for CSOs to constructively engage government agencies in the Philippine PFM. The last session also opened the floor for suggestions for the next steps after the third learning session.

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.