Gov't rightsizing to save P8.7 billion -DBM

The government could save up to P8.7 billion through a bill that grants President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. the authority to rightsize the bureaucracy, an official from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Tuesday.

“Sir, initial data lang po muna. If 3% are rightsized from this program, around P3 billion worth of savings po ang mage-generate,” said DBM Undersecretary Wilford Wong during a consultative meeting on Senate Bill 890, also known as the “Rightsizing the National Government Act of 2022.”

(This is only the initial data. If 3% is rightsized through this program, around P3 billion in savings will be generated.)

“It depends po on the tier, the number of employees, or the programs that will be rightsized. If, for example, 7% will be rightsized... the net savings will be approximately P8.7 billion po,” he added.

(It depends on the tier, the number of employees, or the programs to be rightsized. If, for example, 7% is rightsized, the net savings will be approximately P8.7 billion.)

However, Senator Chiz Escudero raised concerns about the costs associated with separation fees, questioning when the proposed savings would be realized.

“Kelan ma re-realize ‘yung P3 billion if 3% is rightsized or if 3% avail? Because you have a cash-out also eh, 'di ba?” asked Escudero.

(When will the P3 billion be realized if 3% is rightsized? Because you also have a cash-out, don’t you?)

In response, Wong said the DBM would submit additional details to the Senate.

According to a 24 Oras report by Mav Gonzales on Tuesday, Senator Win Gatchalian pointed out that the P3 billion savings were too small compared to the current P6.3 trillion budget.

“I hope that this is not only fashionable, Mr. Chairman, dahil alam niyo naman sa US [that] they created a Department of Government Efficiency… It’s an incomplete figure because you have to pay separation din eh. Maglalabas ka muna ng pera bago mo kitain yan eh,” he said.

(I hope that this is not only fashionable, Mr. Chairman, because you know that the US created a Department of Government Efficiency… It’s an incomplete figure because you have to pay separation, too. You need to bring out money before you earn it.)

The DBM previously stated that passing the National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP) into law would allow the reclassification of positions to fill government vacancies, ensuring optimal use of manpower resources across agencies.

Mandate review

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized the need to review the mandates of certain government agencies, noting that some may have become outdated.

“Like, for example, the National Council for Children’s Television. Kapag tinatanong ko ang mga bata, hindi naman sila nanonood ng television. YouTube na rin ang pinapanood nila, eh. So, we have to review the mandate of these agencies,” he said.

(Take the National Council for Children’s Television, for example. When I ask kids, they say they don’t watch television anymore. They’re watching YouTube instead. So, we need to review the mandates of these agencies.)

“The National Book Development Board. Of course… book development is also important. But we all know the internet now is the primary source of information for the majority of our students,” he added.

Gatchalian also raised a concern regarding the redundancy of NAIA employees.

“Halos lahat na ng trabaho ng taga-NAIA ginagawa na ng privatized entity ng pinrivatize yan ng gobyerno. Hanggang ngayon, andun parin lahat ng empleyado walang ginagawa,” he said.

(Almost all the jobs in NAIA are now done by the privatized entity that was privatized by the government. Until now, all of the employees are still there with nothing to do.)

“All those departments receive P300 Million, P400 Million, and during the budget deliberations, talagang pipilitin lang nila, gagawa sila ng kahit anong project para sabihin na kailangan niyo kami,” he added.

(All those departments receive P300 Million, P400 Million, and during the budget deliberations they will really try to create projects just to say that we need them.)

Escudero also noted school principals and uniformed personnel have similar questionable roles.

In response, Wong assured that reviewing agency mandates is included in the proposed rightsizing program. 

The Department of Education stated that they are currently fixing the concern, while the Department of National Defense (DND) stated that the size of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is dependent on Philippine security.

“Based on the Executive Order 292, nasa Secretary of National Defense to determine the size and structure of the armed forces of the Philippines. Nasa kanya po based on the existing security conditions of the state, which is very dynamic,” said DND Undersecretary Angelito de Leon.

(Based on the Executive Order 292, it is up to the Secretary of National Defense to determine size and structure of the armed forces of the Philippines. It is up to him based on the existing security conditions of the state, which is very dynamic.)

Government employee group COURAGE also expressed its disapproval of the bill, claiming that this will mainly affect contractual employees.

“[‘Yung] mga contractuals at contract of service, lagi silang unang matatanggal diyan kahit may rightsizing or wala. Kung talagang nagtitipid tayo, bakit palaging mga kawani ang ating laging bawasan? Bakit rank-and-file, hindi yung matataas? We are forced to oppose this bill to protect the rank-and-file employees,” said COURAGE Secretary General Manuel Baclagon.

([The] contractuals and those with contracts of service are always the first ones removed whether there is downsizing or not. If we really are cost-cutting, why is it always the lower ranks that are removed? Why is it always the rank-and-file, not the higher-ups? We are forced to oppose this bill to protect the rank-and-file employees.) — DVM/RF, GMA Integrated News