Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Research for Responsive Practice
Articles

Governing Public Finance: Institutional Evolution and Reform of the Philippine Budget Cycle

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  • Janella Marie Caballero
Janella Marie Caballero
Provincial Government of Bulacan
Categories

Published 2026-08-15

Keywords

  • Philippine budget cycle,
  • public financial management,
  • fiscal governance,
  • performance-informed budgeting,
  • budget execution,
  • fiscal transparency,
  • public accountability
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Caballero, J. M. (2026). Governing Public Finance: Institutional Evolution and Reform of the Philippine Budget Cycle. Sidhaya: The Official Research Journal of Bulacan State University, 2(1), 39–47. Retrieved from https://lunday.bulsu.edu.ph/index.php/sidhaya/article/view/134

Abstract

In modern governments, the national budget functions as the central instrument for translating policy priorities into funded programs and public services. In the Philippines, the budgeting process performs an additional governance role by linking fiscal planning with legislative authorization, administrative implementation, and public accountability. This study examines the Philippine budget cycle as a governance system by exploring its historical development, legal foundations, institutional arrangements, and recent reform initiatives. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive–analytical approach, the research applies qualitative content analysis to constitutional provisions, statutory frameworks, executive issuances, and public financial management reports published between 2016 and 2025. The findings indicate that while the Philippine budget system is supported by a robust legal foundation, persistent implementation challenges remain, particularly execution delays, intergovernmental fiscal devolution, and agency capacity constraints under strict fiscal regimes. Recent structural interventions, including performance-informed budgeting, the Cash-Based Budgeting System (MDS), the Mandanas-Garcia devolution shift, and the modernization of public procurement via Republic Act No. 12009, aim to address these bottlenecks. Ultimately, the efficacy of public budgeting in the Philippines depends not only on formal statutory rules but also on institutional capacity, intergovernmental synergy, and consistent administrative implementation.

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