Fiscal policy planners said at least two years are needed to fully implement the provisions under the proposed rightsizing of the national government already scheduled for interpolation in the Senate.
According to Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is optimistic the measure should be approved soon.
“It is moving and [has also been] certified [by the President as urgent]. At the Senate [the bill] is ready for interpolation under Sen. [Loren] Lagarda, so we are optimistic that it will be approved,” Diokno told financial reporters.
Legarda earlier said the bill will enhance the government’s institutional capacity and help address the changing demands of the public.
The rightsizing program aims to abolish executive agencies with redundant functions, with the overlap resulting to the inefficient delivery of public services, and an ineffective use of government funds.
The government has set up a contingency fund under the 2018 budget to answer for the separation, resignation or retirement of some in the civil service.
According to Diokno, regular personnel who will be affected by the program can either avail themselves of retirement benefits and separation incentives, or be placed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in agencies needing additional personnel.
The DBM also said a committee on rightsizing the Executive branch will be created with members being composed of the Executive secretary as chairman, the DBM secretary as cochairman, the socioeconomic planning secretary, chairman of the CSC and the head of the presidential management staff as members.
The bill will allow President Duterte to rightsize the Executive branch in accordance with guiding principles, policies and standards under the bill. The House of Representatives approved in June on second reading the rightsizing bill, or House Bill 5707. This covers all agencies of the Executive branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions and boards, among others.
From 176 agencies in 2000, there are now 186 agencies in the national government, with the government work force currently numbering 1.6 million compared to only 1.1 million in 2000, according to Legarda.
For 2017, 29.57 percent of the national budget of P3.35 trillion, or P990.5 billion, is allocated for personnel services, higher by 27.05 percent from 2016’s P812 billion.