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UP, DBM sign MOU for DBM Diliman Building

| Written by Fred Dabu

DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management leads the signing of an agreement with UP President Angelo Jimenez to formalize the start of negotiations leading to the construction of the DBM Diliman Building inside the UP Diliman campus. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO.

 

 

The University of the Philippines and the Department of Budget and Management have entered into a memorandum of understanding to begin good faith negotiations toward a final agreement allowing the department to construct its DBM Diliman Building in UP Diliman. 

 

The signing took place on August 13 at Quezon Hall, UPD with UP President Angelo Jimenez and DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman as principal signatories.

 

 

UP President Angelo Jimenez and DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman (third and fourth from left, respectively) express optimism as they examine the visual presentation of the proposed site for the DBM Diliman Building that will become part of the university’s Public Governance Complex. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO.

 

 

Under the MOU, DBM intends to use a parcel of land measuring approximately 3,000 square meters within the proposed Public Governance Complex along Commonwealth Avenue, for its regional offices and other bureaus and units. Both parties agreed to negotiate the terms and conditions of the arrangement, recognizing the shared goals and mutual benefits of the collaboration.

 

Both institutions committed “to leveraging their respective expertise, resources, and networks to ensure the success of activities related to fiscal planning, public financial management, budget preparation and execution, and sustainable development” — all geared toward improving public service and contributing to nation-building.

 

 

UP VP for Development Daniel Peckley Jr. (left) shows DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman the proposed site for the DBM Diliman Building and the university’s Public Governance Complex along Commonwealth Avenue. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO.

 

 

The agreement will explore DBM’s proposal to use and possess the land for a period of no less than 25 years, subject to possible extension. The final terms will be embodied in a definitive memorandum of agreement that will strictly comply with Republic Act No. 9500 (the UP Charter of 2008) and other applicable laws and regulations.

 

Jimenez and Pangandaman both expressed optimism that the collaboration will strengthen the government’s capacity for fiscal governance while making effective use of UP’s resources to advance public service.

 

 

UP and DBM officials view architectural renderings and the site map for the proposed DBM Diliman Building on Aug. 13 at the UP Board of Regents Room, Quezon Hall, UP Diliman. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO.

 

 

Pangandaman said the DBM building to rise at the heart of the academic community will bring services closer to the people. Jimenez highlighted the prospect of partnerships between DBM and a community of scholars from adjacent academic and research institutions such as the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP School of Urban and Regional Planning, UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

 

 

DBM Usec. for Local Government and Regional Operations Wilford Will Wong (left) joins the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding for the construction of the DBM Diliman Building. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO.

 

UP VP for Development Daniel Peckley Jr. (leftmost) and DBM Usec. Wilford Will Wong (rightmost) join UP President Angelo Jimenez and DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman (seated left and right, respectively), the principal signatories of the memorandum of understanding for the construction of the DBM Diliman Building. Photo by Kevin Roque, UP MPRO.

 

 

The ceremonial signing was witnessed by DBM Undersecretary Wilford Will Wong (Local Government and Regional Operations), Usec. Goddes Hope Libiran (Media Affairs and Community Relations), Usec. Margaux Marie Salcedo (Advocacy, Capacity Development, Economic Affairs, and Stakeholder Relations Group), Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente Asuncion (Internal Management Group), Asec. Diana Camacho-Mercado (ACES Group); DBM NCR Regional Director Ruby Muro and Assistant Regional Director Joseph Sy; DBM IV-A Regional Director Nymphia Manalastas and Asst. Regional Director Jacqueline Ludovice; and DBM IV-B Regional Director Ricky Sanchez and Asst. Regional Director Crystine Cuartero.

 

With Jimenez were: Vice President for Planning and Finance Iryn Balmores, VP for Administration Augustus Resurreccion, VP for Development Daniel Peckley Jr., and Asst. VP for Land Use Planning and Development Karen Ann Jago-on.