DBM, EU, and UNICEF to boost public finance for vulnerable children

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM), together with the European Union (EU) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), launched a joint public finance facility for vulnerable children in the country.

In a statement on Monday, UNICEF said the public finance facility, a cooperation program, will support “the concerted and targeted budgeting of public funds to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children in the Philippines.”

“This new facility represents a significant step towards improving public investments. In the longer term, we want to increase the coverage of social protection programs and family-friendly policies for children living in multidimensional poverty, so they can survive and thrive,” Behzad Noubar, UNICEF acting representative to the Philippines said.

UNICEF said this will develop policy budget tools — a budget tagging and tracking tool to boost sub-national public finance management systems.

This will allow local governments to better plan, budget, and deliver social services for children.

“The EU is committed to supporting the Philippines in building a resilient, shock-responsive, and inclusive society. This facility will provide the necessary resources and support to ensure that children receive the care and protection they deserve,” Massimo Santoro, ambassador of the EU to the Philippines said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante