Senate OKs gov't optimization bill

MANILA — Twenty-two out of 23 senators have approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 890 or the proposed Government Optimization Act which would empower President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to to scale down agencies under the executive branch and efficiently deliver services. 

This was originally the Rightsizing the National Government Act of 2022.

Senate President Francis Escudero, principal author of the measure, downplayed the possible loss of jobs, it can also lead to the possible creation of new positions, new offices, upgrading, upskilling, and upscaling personnel to help them fill up much-needed positions and put them on the path toward career advancement.

Escudero explained it aims to deliver services to the people more efficiently and not merely  to save money.

Under the bill, the President will be authorized to optimize the operations of the different agencies in the Executive Branch under the Government Optimization Program (GOP).

A Committee on Optimizing the Executive Branch (COEB) — composed of the Executive Secretary as chairperson; the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as co-chairperson; and the Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning, the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission  (CSC), and the Director-General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority as members — will be created to oversee the implementation of the GOP. 

The bill covers all agencies of the executive branch, including departments, bureaus, offices, commissions, boards, councils, and all other entities attached to or under their administrative supervision, and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) not covered by Republic Act No. 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.

It does not cover the legislature, the judiciary, constitutional commissions, the Office of the Ombudsman, local government units (LGUs), and teaching-related positions of the education sector, the military and uniformed personnel in the Department of National Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Justice.

However, the legislature, judiciary, constitutional commissions, and the Office of the Ombudsman may, within their respective authorized appropriations, optimize their respective offices, consistent with the principles and guidelines contained in this Act, and within the parameters of the Unified Position Classification and Compensation System established under Republic Act No. 6758, as amended.

The bill also empowers LGUs to optimize their respective offices, consistent with the governing principles and guidelines contained in this Act and the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, and subject to their financial capability.

The authority given to the President shall end five years after the effectivity of the bill if it becomes law.