President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has tasked the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to lead the inter-agency council responsible for adopting the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) approach for livelihood and employment programs in the country.
The PCB approach focuses government resources on key programs and projects, which will be coordinated in a holistic manner across departments or agencies working toward the same goals.
The designation of an inter-agency council to oversee the adoption of the PCB was proposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and approved by the President during a sectoral meeting on Tuesday.
The sectoral meeting was attended by several government officials from various agencies, where the DBM discussed the governmentโs programs, activities, and projects (PAPs).
โWhat we are trying to do is to cut out the duplications,โ President Marcos said. โI know there is a need for this. Itโs just a question of getting it right.โ
The PCB will examine the budget requirements for the livelihood and employment of beneficiaries to ensure that no duplication occurs, the DBM said.
The DBMโs presentation noted that during the 14th Cabinet Meeting on June 22, 2023, President Marcos directed all departments and agencies to coordinate with the DBM for the rationalization of similar, overlapping, and redundant programs and projects.
President Marcos, however, stated that they are not removing the programs from the different departments.
The DBM conducted a rapid assessment of existing livelihood, employment, and feeding PAPs and the propriety of rationalizing and integrating them.
It also assessed the viability of programs being handled by a single focal agency, primarily focusing on the systems and productivity-related aspects and their implications relative to the governmentโs rightsizing and devolution efforts.
Results of the rapid assessment showed notable benefits from rationalizing various government livelihood and employment programs.
They also indicated that assigning all programs to a single focal agency might overwhelm the department and lead to inefficient and ineffective delivery of its functions and services.
Based on the results, the DBM cited these issues, which led to the adoption of the PCB.
Aside from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the Department of Agriculture (DA) may be asked to lead the PCB on livelihood and employment, the DBM said.
DOLE, DSWD, and the DA have the largest budget allocations among all implementing agencies, it added.
The DBM, however, said there is no need for a PCB for feeding programs as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger serves as the convergence platform for various government feeding programs. | PND
