By Billy Begas
Two lawmakers have expressed their support for the proposal of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to implement rightsizing in the government to save funds from salaries paid to unnecessary personnel.
Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said the proposal should be accompanied by the shift of government to digital, which will address many inefficiencies in government processes.
“Ensuring that the bureaucracy is sufficiently and optimally manned, with rationalized functions, would save billions worth of people’s money that could be used to support economic recovery programs and the provision of basic social services,” Quimbo said.
Under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, Quimbo said P1.4 trillion or 28% of the total budget will go to personnel services.
She said the reduction of funds for salaries and benefits of government employees will mean more funds for fuel subsidies and ayuda for farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Rightsizing means that the number of staff positions in government is sufficient to ensure that all mandates are fulfilled at the lowest possible cost. Rightsizing means that outdated and redundant positions can now be abolished, while new but necessary positions can be created,” Quimbo added.
Quimbo said shifting to digital will help the government address the inefficiencies in its processes which were highlighted during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For example, COA assessed that ayuda distribution during the peak of the pandemic took up to 60 days because payment procedures were done manually. LGUs that used digital payment systems were able to substantially cut down payment distribution time. Going digital allows for a more efficient delivery of basic services,” she added.
As government transactions become digital, Quimbo said a number of staff positions will be abolished, but at the same time, staff positions in the ICT division will need to increase.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the effort of the DBM to remove the unnecessary personnel “deserves the support of Congress.”
“In fact, the legislature should match it with a similar undertaking,” Rodriguez said.
He said rightsizing will address the overlapping of functions in bureaus and agencies under a department.
Rodriguez also called on Congress to go slow in acting on proposals to create new agencies until the executive branch has determined the “right size” of the bureaucracy and its proposed streamlining program is enacted into law.
He said the affected personnel should be offered additional retirement and separation benefits in addition to what they are entitled to under existing laws.
