The Philippines Civil Service Commission (CSC) says it is “thoroughly studying” proposed measures on right-sizing the bureaucracy which could affect two million Government employees.
Chair of the CSC, Karlo Nograles said the Commission understood and accepted the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the ill-effects of the current situation on “the health, the economy, and other factors that affect the life and livelihood” of Filipino workers.
“Therefore, the Commission supports any move that would ensure greater efficiency in public sector administration, and build an agile and future-ready Civil Service,” Mr Nograles (pictured) said.
“The Commission assures everyone that it will thoroughly study any proposed legislation on right-sizing the bureaucracy, and provide its inputs, with the welfare of Civil Servants and the effective delivery of service to the public as its primordial considerations.”
Mr Nograles’ comments follow a disclosure from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that it was planning to ask Congress to give President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authority to “right-size” or trim the bureaucracy to save funds.
Secretary of the DBM, Amenah Pangandaman said the Department would be checking 187 Agencies, Departments and Bureaus, including Government-owned and controlled corporations, for redundant or overlapping functions.
Three lawmakers, Senators Loren Legarda, Sonny Angara and Francis Escudero, are supportive of the proposal saying it was long overdue.
However, Senator Aquilino Pimentel argued that Congress should be the one to abolish Government entities, not the Executive Branch.
Vice President Sara Duterte said right-sizing was a good move, though she doubted it could be accomplished in the short term considering the difficulty of its implementation.
Manila, 17 July 2022
