Execs’ evaluation not a Cabinet revamp – Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — All government officials are essentially on probation as President Marcos is eyeing a quarterly and “more rigorous” assessment of their performance to enhance the quality of government services and to meet the goals set by the administration.

Although he clarified that the ongoing evaluation of officials is not a revamp, Marcos said more changes may be expected in the performance review, which he described as an ongoing process.

“It’s not a Cabinet revamp... We are still in the process of examining... What happened really here was that I put everyone on notice, that you are all on – basically all on probation. And OK, this time it looks like some displayed good performance,” the President said in a chance interview with reporters at Malacañang.

“What you refer to as a Cabinet revamp is not a one-shot, one-time, big-time thing. It is an ongoing thing... It is essentially putting all government agencies, departments on notice that we have to do better. And we will be looking very, very closely. And we will make that review on a periodic basis or maybe a quarterly basis,” he added.

Marcos, who had admitted that Filipinos are disappointed with the government’s services, said the quarterly assessment would determine whether the targets of agencies are attained.

“And we will be much, much more rigorous in looking at the performance – not only at the top level, but all the way, all the way. And that’s why we will see… I’m sure you will see more changes in the future,” the Chief Executive said.

He revealed that the administration is now looking into the performance of undersecretaries of various agencies.

Last month, Marcos ordered Cabinet members to submit their courtesy resignations to give way to a sweeping performance review that would determine who would remain in office to work on the administration’s recalibrated priorities.

According to the President, such an assessment is necessary because the people “expect results, not politics, not excuses.”

Malacañang has so far announced three waves of leadership changes, although most of the Cabinet members were allowed to stay in their posts.

No CA nod yet

Two Cabinet officials face an uncertain path to confirmation as the Commission on Appointments (CA) has yet to schedule their hearings before the Senate adjourns sine die, with no slots allotted for them yesterday and none so far today.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) chief Jay Ruiz and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda have yet to be scheduled for confirmation hearings after the CA suspended their hearings last week due to “lack of material time.” — Helen Flores