The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have revamped the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF), introducing stronger oversight and stricter standards for ethical and transparent evaluation of government programs.

On Monday, April 14, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC) to reinforce the government’s focus on evidence-based decision-making and strong governance in evaluating priority programs and projects.

According to NEDA, the NEPF, created 10 years ago, “provides a systematic approach to evaluating government programs and projects.”

Among the major revisions in the updated NEPF was restructuring the Evaluation Task Force into a NEPF Steering Committee for better coordination.

It also institutionalizes the national and agency-based evaluation agendas to align with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). Additionally, it emphasizes the use of high-quality, ethical, and transparent evaluation methods.

Balisacan said in an April 15 statement that the revised NEPF is a major governance reform aimed at promoting “a whole-of-government approach to evaluation that supports better policy and budget decisions, drives continuous improvement, and fosters a culture of accountability and learning across agencies.

“Today’s ceremonial signing marks a significant milestone in advancing evidence-informed policymaking. It forms part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability, enhance transparency, and improve the government’s capacity to generate actionable insights that elevate public service delivery,” Balisacan urged.

As NEDA transitions into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), it said that the updated policy framework enhances monitoring and evaluation functions, providing government institutions with stronger tools for evidence-based improvements.

“Particularly, this framework provides the essential guidance for formulating a national evaluation agenda, overseeing rigorous studies, and, most critically, ensuring that evaluation findings are actively used to refine policies and programs, ultimately helping to maximize their impact and effectiveness,” NEDA said.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have revamped the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF), introducing stronger oversight and stricter standards for ethical and transparent evaluation of government programs.

On Monday, April 14, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC) to reinforce the government’s focus on evidence-based decision-making and strong governance in evaluating priority programs and projects.

According to NEDA, the NEPF, created 10 years ago, “provides a systematic approach to evaluating government programs and projects.”

Among the major revisions in the updated NEPF was restructuring the Evaluation Task Force into a NEPF Steering Committee for better coordination.

It also institutionalizes the national and agency-based evaluation agendas to align with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). Additionally, it emphasizes the use of high-quality, ethical, and transparent evaluation methods.

Balisacan said in an April 15 statement that the revised NEPF is a major governance reform aimed at promoting “a whole-of-government approach to evaluation that supports better policy and budget decisions, drives continuous improvement, and fosters a culture of accountability and learning across agencies.

“Today’s ceremonial signing marks a significant milestone in advancing evidence-informed policymaking. It forms part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability, enhance transparency, and improve the government’s capacity to generate actionable insights that elevate public service delivery,” Balisacan urged.

As NEDA transitions into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), it said that the updated policy framework enhances monitoring and evaluation functions, providing government institutions with stronger tools for evidence-based improvements.

“Particularly, this framework provides the essential guidance for formulating a national evaluation agenda, overseeing rigorous studies, and, most critically, ensuring that evaluation findings are actively used to refine policies and programs, ultimately helping to maximize their impact and effectiveness,” NEDA said.