President Marcos has approved the implementation of Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) to ensure the effective execution of livelihood and employment initiatives across government agencies, and to avoid duplications.
"I have approved the implementation of the Program Convergence Budgeting for livelihood and employment initiatives to ensure their effective execution," Marcos announced on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
The President has also tasked the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to lead the inter-agency council to govern the adoption of PCB approach.
Marcos made the decisions during a sectoral meeting on Tuesday.
“What we are trying to do is to cut out the duplications,” Marcos said. “I know there is a need for this. It’s just a question of getting it right.”
The PCB approach focuses on government resources on key programs and projects which shall be coordinated in a holistic approach across departments working towards the same goals.
According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the PCB will look at the budget requirement for livelihood and employment of the beneficiaries, so that no duplication is made.
In June 2023, Marcos directed all departments and agencies to coordinate with the DBM for the rationalization of similar, overlapping, and redundant programs and projects.
The Chief Executive, however, said they are not removing the programs from the different departments.
The DBM conducted a rapid assessment of existing livelihood, employment, feeding PAPs and propriety of the rationalization and integration of the same.
It also assessed viability of programs being handled by a single focal agency, primarily focusing on the systems and productivity-related aspects and its implications relative to the rightsizing and devolution effort of the government.
Results of the rapid assessment showed there are notable benefits of rationalizing various government livelihood and employment programs.
They also indicated that assigning all programs to a single focal agency might overwhelm the department and may cause inefficient and ineffective delivery of its functions and services.
Based on the results, the DBM cited such issues which led for the adoption of the PCB. It also proposed the designation of an inter-agency council to govern the adoption of the PCB.
Aside from 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.
The three agencies have the largest budget allocation 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.