improving efficiency in public financial management: a study on the adoption of the unified account code structure (UACs) in select national government agencies

Ms. Agnes Arban-Quilinging (Asian Development Bank - Governance Thematic Group) 

Since 2014, the Philippine Government has been implementing the Unified Account Code Structure (UACS) as an integral component of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Program aimed at simplifying, improving, and harmonizing government’s financial management processes and information systems.

Through UACS, oversight and implementing agencies share a common set of financial data, from budgeting to audit. The use of codes helps simplify and consolidate financial reports; facilitates timely and accurate reporting of receipts and expenditures; and enables comparison of disbursements for programs, projects and activities, with their approved appropriations.  The UACS, compliant with the Government Finance Statistics (GFS), allows for classification of expenditures by functions of government based on sectors and priorities, including health, education, and social protection.

In this context, this study looked at the adoption of the UACS reform in national government agencies using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Focusing on the top spending agencies, this study described UACS’s perceived usefulness and ease of use towards agencies’ actual system use. UACS’s usefulness was determined in terms of UACS application to budget cycle: Budget Preparation, Legislation, Execution and Accountability. UACS’ Ease of Use, on the other hand, was ascertained through a comparison between UACS and the old system.

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION