The Philippines has hosted a three-day regional meeting on public finance reforms intended to help governments protect spending on children’s services during economic and climate pressures.
The “South-South Exchange”, held in Manila from 18 to 20 August, was organised through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) with support from the EU and UNICEF, according to the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, cited by the European External Action Service in a release on Thursday.
Representatives attended from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Discussions focused on how governments can safeguard investments in areas such as education, health and nutrition, child protection and social protection when budgets are constrained, the EU Delegation said.
Participants also shared approaches to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of social sector spending and strengthening public finance systems against economic and climate shocks.
Countries exchanged tools including “budget tagging” and “expenditure tracking” — methods used to label and follow specific spending lines — as well as evidence-based planning and a “Social Sector Dashboard Budget Tracker.”
The tools are designed to help governments check whether public money is reaching services for children and families.
Statements from DBM, UNICEF and the EU
The meeting took place as the Philippines transitions towards upper-middle-income status, according to the EU Delegation.
Kyungsun Kim, UNICEF Philippines representative, said the discussions “reaffirmed our resolve to invest in systems that protect children’s rights” and linked that work to the country’s economic transition.
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said government spending on children “should never be seen merely as a cost” and described it as a guide for strengthening the Philippines’ public financial management system.
Frederic Grillet, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, stated the EU-UNICEF partnership through the Public Finance Facility reflects the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy and includes investment in “strong institutions, good governance and human capital.”
The EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility in South and Southeast Asia was launched in 2019 with a €3 million EU contribution and provides technical assistance, knowledge sharing and policy engagement to help governments analyse and track public spending that benefits children.
