By CHINO S. LEYCO The Department of Finance (DOF) is currently recruiting Filipinos who are willing to support the economic team in crafting a bounce-back plan for the country and then supporting its implementation as soon as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is over. In a statement, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito Lambino II said the DOF’s Strategy, Economics and Results Group (SERG) is building its team to support state economic managers in coming up with a recovery and stimulus plan for the Philippine economy. “There is so much we all need to do to help each other get back on our feet. A crucial part of our national recovery effort is crafting and implementing a bounce-back plan for our economy,” said Lambino, who now the acting head of SERG. “SERG is building up its team that will support our economic managers in making this happen,” he added, noting "highly-competent and committed individuals” are encouraged to apply. Lambino said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected various aspects of Filipinos’ lives our families and communities, places of work and industries, and the Philippine economy overall. He said that what the DOF needs for the team are purpose-driven, results-oriented, and dedicated workers who are passionate about the effective and efficient delivery of government programs and services to the Filipino people. In close partnership with other government agencies and stakeholders, Lambino said the work of the would-be recruits includes helping provide relief to poor and low-income families via such programs as DSWD’s emergency subsidy program (ESP) and for employees of small businesses to keep their jobs and for their employers to create more jobs in the future. The team also contributes to the plan of ushering and boosting inclusive growth, job creation, and poverty reduction; and laying a strong foundation for the nation’s renewed pursuit of inclusive development and shared prosperity under the post-pandemic "new normal" scenario, he said. Lambino said all of these would require raising resources from better expenditure management, improved tax policy, better tax administration, effective debt management, and other innovative and equitable means to share the costs of recovery. “To achieve these objectives, we need a combination of technical specialists and effective communicators: people who listen well and engage effectively with all kinds of stakeholders; build coalitions for change; recast complex jargon into popular language; while also bringing ideas of stakeholders to the attention of policymakers,” Lambino said.