Marcos OKs Program Convergence Budgeting for gov't livelihood projects

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has given a green light to enforce the Program Convergence Budgeting for livelihood and employment initiatives of the government.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Marcos said this would ensure the effective execution of the livelihood projects.

He also directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to lead the inter-agency council that will govern the adoption of PCB approach for livelihood and employment programs in the country.

The Presidential Communications Office said the PCB approach focuses government resources on key programs and projects, which shall be coordinated in a holistic approach across departments or agencies working towards the same goals.

According to the PCO, the designation of an inter-agency council to govern the adoption of the PCB has been proposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

It was approved by Marcos during a sectoral meeting on Tuesday.

“What we are trying to do is to cut out the duplications,” Marcos said in a press release. “I know there is a need for this. It’s just a question of getting it right.”

The PCB will look at the budget requirement for livelihood and employment of the beneficiaries in order to guarantee that no duplication is made, the DBM said during the sectoral meeting.

Marcos earlier tasked all departments and agencies to coordinate with the DBM for the rationalization of similar, overlapping, and redundant programs and projects.

Marcos clarified that they are not removing the programs from the different departments.

The adoption of the PCB came after the DBM had conducted a rapid assessment of existing livelihood and employment programs.

The assessment has shown that there were notable benefits of rationalizing various livelihood projects of the administration. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News