For the first time in history, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), through its official auxiliary social media platform “Usapang Budget”, emerged as a big winner at the 2023 MarCom Awards, one of the largest and most prestigious international competitions worldwide administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP).

The DBM won four platinum awards, the highest form of award conferred by Marcom Awards to marketing and communications agencies, companies, and individuals worldwide for their excellence, creativity, and hard work.

Established on August 1, 2022 to laymanize budget issues, concerns and energize discussions, the Usapang Budget won in the following MarCom Awards’ categories, namely: 1. Creativity | Social Media; 2. Strategic Communications | Public Relations; 3. Web-based | Social Media (Facebook Site Category); and 4. Web-based | Social Media (Government Category).

According to DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, these recognitions manifest the government’s determination to make budget and management concepts understandable for the people, in line with the thrust of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to cultivate inclusive and sustainable development.

“This is a pleasant surprise, a welcome achievement. These awards recognize DBM’s efforts to reach out to our kababayans, aligned with the administration’s objective to bring the good news to our people and to combat misinformation and disinformation,” the Budget Secretary said.

She added, “Palagi ko nga pong sinasabi na karapatan ng bawat Pilipino ang malaman at maintindihan kung saan napupunta ang bawat sentimo sa kaban ng bayan para naman makalahok sila sa proseso ng pagba-budget. ‘Yan po ang pangunahing dahilan kung bakit nabuo ang Usapang Budget nang wala pang isang buwan simula ng aming panunungkulan.”

“And, just a year after its establishment, the Usapang Budget is already being recognized internationally. Hence, we thank the people and the MarCom Awards for the recognitions. Rest assured that the DBM Usapang Budget will continue and employ more creative ways to disseminate budget and management-related information and activities in a language easily understood by the general public—dahil budget natin ito,” the DBM Secretary vowed.