2024 CBILLS AF Managers from the Philippine Congress pose at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City

Tagaytay City, Philippines – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Center for Governance-Policy Research Office (CFG-PRO), held a Legislative Training Course on Risk Management in Public Finance for Appropriations and Finance (AF) Managers of the Philippine Congress on June 3-7, 2024, at the DAP Conference Center.

As part of the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) Program, this course enhanced the knowledge of 25 scholars in public finance management (PFM). These scholars play a crucial role in providing technical support to legislators during the preparation and passage of the annual national budget. 

The course focused on understanding and managing fiscal risks as well as the use of analytical tools to support effective policy-making. Resource persons included President Gil Beltran of the Philippine Tax Academy, Executive Director Novel Bangsal of the House of Representatives–Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department, Director Robert Dominick Mariano of the Bureau of Treasury, and Senior Economist Aekapol Chongvilaivan of the Asian Development Bank.

Over the five-day course, key topics included the principles, challenges, and opportunities of sound public financial management, the critical role of Congress in PFM reforms, and fiscal risk management strategies implemented by the Philippine government. Scholars also conducted in-depth analyses of fiscal risks associated with select programs or policies and proposed actionable recommendations to address these risks.

Since its inception in 2018, the CBILLS Program has been committed to enhancing the leadership, ethical and personal development, and technical skills of scholars from the AF Group through customized training interventions.

(Dannieliza Sambrano)