Government rightsizing programa priority of Duterte

MANILA, Philippines - The government’s rightsizing program will be high on the priority list of reforms under the Duterte administration, but would not result in mass layoffs, said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

In a recent interview, he said the bill is ultimately meant to produce a more efficient bureaucracy, therefore improving the delivery of services.

“It does not necessarily mean there will be layoffs. There will be transfers from one department to another or from one division to another just to make sure the government machinery works smoother,” he said.

The Rightsizing the National Government Act is among the bills certified as urgent by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council on July 13. The House of Representatives approved House Bill 5707 on third and final reading on July 26.

A counterpart Senate bill has been introduced by Sen. Loren Legarda and is still being deliberated on.

Pernia said the rationalization of government workforce will commence once the bill is passed into law.

“The rightsizing bill is going through Congress. When it becomes a law, the rightsizing activity will start,” he said.

The rightsizing bill aims to enable the government to streamline its operations by eliminating functions, programs and projects that are redundant or unnecessary, while strengthening other sectors or agencies that need additional resources.

Government employees who will be affected by the program will not be forced to retire or leave public service as they will be given the option to avail themselves of retirement benefits or separation incentives, or be placed in a manpower pool to be deployed to priority agencies needing additional personnel.