GMA urges completion of priority projects

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo reiterated her directive to all agencies to speed up completion of priority government programs and projects to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of public services to the people.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier issued Executive Order 789 enhancing project performance, monitoring and evaluation system and reinforcing public-private partnership and collaboration in the monitoring of government projects.

The EO provides a “private sector representative,” heading the steering committee of the Project Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (Pro-Performance) System (PPS), and the head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) as co-chair.

EO 789 also tasks all government television and radio networks to “allot air time for purposes of communicating the status of all projects, including the televised bidding of all departments.”

The PPS is an “integrated monitoring system established to facilitate, evaluate and advocate, and to strategically monitor the implementation of the President’s priority programs and projects.”

“As such, this (PPS) function shall form part of the mandate of the PMS,” the EO said.

Under Mrs. Arroyo’s directive, the PPS would “provide independent and up-to-date constructive information on the status of project implementation based on physical development performance and quality, financial performance and timeliness; and identify areas, issues and concerns that need to be addressed by lead implementing agencies and/or project management offices.”

Mrs. Arroyo also tasked the PPS to provide the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) and its implementing agencies the information to “ensure public awareness and participation through information campaigns and advocacy programs.”

“The PPS shall monitor the priority programs and projects of the President, such as but not limited to the projects committed (by the President) through the State of the Nation Addresses (SONA), major infrastructure projects, health and education programs, regardless of fund source,” the EO said.

The PPS Steering Committee would be composed of representatives from the business sector, civil society sector, academe, youth sector, mass media, religious sector, local government sector, international development organizations, and a national government advocacy group.