The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified that “rightsizing” government offices “does not automatically mean reduction in the number of personnel” in government offices.
Rightsizing, for the DBM, is determining which of the 187 government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) with around two million personnel “may be streamlined through merging, restructuring or abolition.”
The proposed measure seeks to save “a significant amount of the budget” to fund priority projects.
“’Yung rightsizing po, possible po na mayroong mga opisina na palakasin, i-strengthen, bigyan ng mas malaking mandato and then possible din po na madagdagan ng tao at ng budget,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
She added that employees who would be displaced may be transferred to agencies set for upsizing.
Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, chief of the Department of Education, has expressed support for the proposed move, saying that “it is a good direction” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Para po nare-review natin kung lahat ba ng mga empleyado at lahat ba ng mga posisyon ay useful siya… I don’t see it happening in the short term dahil mahirap po mag rightsize ng buong government,” she said.
For Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Marcos’ directive is meant to “streamline the bureaucracy” in response to remarks claiming that the bureaucracy has become “bloated.”
Marcos instructed officials during the first Cabinet meeting to determine which offices need streamlining for a more effective service delivery to the public.
In a statement, the Civil Service Commision (CSC) said it backs “any move that would ensure greater efficiency in public sector administration, and build an agile and future-ready civil service.”
“The Commission assures everyone that it will thoroughly study any proposed legislation on rightsizing the bureaucracy, and provide its inputs, with the welfare of civil servants and the effective delivery of service to the public as its primordial considerations,” it added. – With reports from Mela Lesmoras-ag
