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Citizen Meeting: Budget Director spoke about access to the institutional portal as a tool for budget execution and transparency
Representatives of civil society gathered at Citizen Meeting with Budget organized by General Budget Directorate to socialize the potential of the 2023 Budget Formulation Calendar.
The tool contains details of the inputs, activities and responsible parties for the development of the budget formulation, as established by article 30 of decree 492-07, which approves the regulations for the application of law 423-06.
In his welcoming remarks, the Budget Director, José Rijo Presbot, emphasized that the meeting opens the institution's doors to create a different culture of citizen participation.
“We want to share with you the work we are doing in preparation for 2023. This exchange will facilitate the incorporation of the demands of society, local governments, and communities into next year's budget.“Rijo Presbot stated.
During his speech, he recalled the strategic alliance with the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD)which seeks to link the plan and the budget for better management of resource administration, monitoring and evaluation of public policies.
“We are making an effort that goes beyond the central government, working with local governments to identify the actions, resources, and services they actually provide, and thereby align the plans reported by municipalities with the budget.“Rijo Presbot emphasized.
The activity brought together civil society organizations
civil as Citizen Participation, Alliance for the Right to Health (ADESA)The Center for Research and Social Promotion, the Montalvo Center, the Solidarity Foundation, the Juan XXIII Center, and the Citizen Forum. Additionally, the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD) and technicians from Digepres.
During the event, representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD) and the Budget Office shared relevant information about the actions carried out by both institutions.
Domingo Matías Hernández, Vice Minister of Territorial Planning and Regional Development of the MEPyD, referred to Law No. 176-07 of the National District and the municipalities and to Law No. 498-06 of Planning and Public Investment, its mechanisms and scales of citizen participation.
“When we arrived, there was no mechanism in place due to a lack of understanding of the importance of the relationship between civil society and the State. Citizen power is included in President Luis Abinader's government program.“Matías Hernández emphasized this.”
He also explained the processes that the Government carries out to integrate citizen participation in public management.
For her part, Griselda Gómez from the Directorate of Quality and Evaluation of Budgetary Management of DigepresHe explained in detail the new features, access, and breakdown of relevant dates within the 2023 Budget Formulation Calendar, urging those present to make use of the tool.
Transparency, social control and citizen monitoring
The representative of Citizen Participation, Fátima Lorenzo, described the initiative as positive because society can monitor and oversee public affairs in a leading role.
Subsequently, Guadalupe Valdez, from Foro Ciudadano and Centro de Investigación y Promoción Social (CYPROS)He stated that society has the right to be informed.
Roque Felix, from the Juan Montalvo Center, congratulated the initiative and made suggestions regarding budgeting aimed at non-profit and educational organizations.
Other proposals revolved around the system of consequences that should be imposed on institutions that do not fulfill their role as part of the public sector.
As a result of the meeting, it was agreed to replicate the experience in the territories in order to bring information to the communities through access to public information and the citizens' right to know.
Rijo Presbot presented the Digepres institutional portal as a citizen tool and information resource on budget execution.
