Marcos suspends performance, results based incentives across bureaucracy

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. suspended the Results-Based Performance  Management System (RBPMS) and Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) System in the government due to duplication and redundancy issues that need to be addressed.

In a statement, the Palace said  Marcos issued Executive Order No. 61 on June 3 which suspended the implementation of Administrative Order No. 25 (s. 2011) and EO No. 80  (s. 2012), and all other relevant issuances pending review of the RBPMS and PBI System.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed EO 61.

AO 25 established a unified and integrated RBPMS across all departments and agencies within the executive branch of government.

EO 80 adopted the PBI System —which consisted of a Productivity  Enhancement Incentive (PEI) and the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) aimed at motivating higher performance, greater accountability in the public sector, and ensuring the accomplishment of government commitments and  targets.

The RBPMS and PBI, however, have been “duplicative” and “redundant” with the internal and external performance audit and evaluation systems of the government, the Palace said.

Malacañang also said that the two systems lacked a review mechanism leading to the accumulation of rules, regulations, and issuances from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Harmonization of National Government  Performance Monitoring, Information, and Reporting Systems.

“It makes compliance burdensome, bureaucratic, laborious and time consuming for government agencies,” the Palace said.

Marcos, in his EO 61, ordered a study of the RBPMS and PBI systems.

“It is imperative to streamline, align and harmonize the RBPMS and PBI  System with ease of doing business initiatives, and reform the government performance evaluation process and incentives system towards a more responsive, efficient, agile and competent bureaucracy,” according to the EO.

A Technical Working Group (TWG) will be formed for the study and review of the RBPMS and PBI.

The TWG will be composed of the Budget Secretary as chair and the Executive Secretary as co-chair, while its members will be the Secretaries of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Anti Red-Tape Authority (ARTA) Directors General.

The  TWG shall integrate, streamline and align the new government performance management system with the government internal audit program and  activities pursuant to RA No. 3456, as amended by RA No. 4177, or the  “Internal Auditing Act of 1962,” and government quality management  systems under AO No. 161 (s. 2006) and EO No. 605 (s. 2007).

The TWG shall also submit a comprehensive report on its findings together  with its recommendations to the Office of the President, through the  Office of the Executive Secretary, within not more than six  months from the effectivity of the Order.

The TWG is,  likewise, tasked to submit a transition plan for the grant of performance-based bonuses for Fiscal Year 2023 within three months from the effectivity of the order. — DVM, GMA Integrated News