Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, the Budget Secretary, is optimistic that the National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP) bill will be enacted into law by the first quarter of this year. The bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, with Senator Joel Villanueva as its sponsor.
During a media interview at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Pangandaman expressed her hope that a hearing would be conducted when the legislative session resumes next week. However, she acknowledged that the bill’s adoption might be delayed due to other priority measures of the Marcos administration.
The proposal for rightsizing aims to create a lean, efficient, and responsive government workforce by removing redundancy in functions and addressing obsolete agencies. With approximately 187 government agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations employing around 2 million personnel, the bill seeks to streamline the bureaucracy through merging, restructuring, or abolition.
To further enhance the efficiency of government operations and improve the delivery of public services, Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva has filed Senate Bill (SB) 2502. This bill complements the NGRP by proposing measures to optimize government processes.
According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), there are currently over 1.979 million permanent positions for 2024. However, around 8.54 percent of these positions remain vacant. On the other hand, the government has engaged 832,812 nonpermanent government workers under Job Order or Contract of Service status as of June 30, 2023, according to the Civil Service Commission.
In addition to the NGRP bill, Pangandaman also expects the adoption of a new procurement bill in the first quarter. This bill, which was approved in the House of Representatives last December, aims to address difficulties in the procurement of programs and projects that have caused delays in government spending.
Responding to questions about the additional P12 billion budget allocated by Congress during last year’s bicameral conference committee, Pangandaman clarified that it would not be solely used to finance the proposed Charter change via people’s initiative. Instead, the budget was allocated to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for various activities such as the preparation of elections, overseas absentee voting, recall, special elections, referenda, and other initiatives. The Comelec has the discretion to use the amount for a plebiscite if the government decides to pursue any changes or if a people’s initiative is initiated.
In conclusion, the NGRP bill is expected to bring about significant changes in the government workforce by streamlining agencies and improving efficiency. With the support of Senator Villanueva and other lawmakers, it is anticipated that the bill will become law in the first quarter. This, along with the proposed procurement bill, will contribute to a more streamlined and responsive government, ultimately benefiting the Filipino people.
Source: The Manila Times
