Senator Chiz Escudero on Thursday expressed support for the abolition and revamp of offices in the Executive Department deemed to be duplicating the functions of other government agencies, saying it would save the administration scarce resources that could be funneled to fund more programs for the poor.
“Less bureaucracy is always better so we can have more money for projects and programs that directly benefit our people instead of just being spent on salaries and wages of government officials and employees,” Escudero said after Executive Order No. 1 was issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a bid to trim down the bureaucracy.
“As such, any initiative to make the government more effective and efficient in responding to the current needs of the people is always welcome and commendable,” the veteran lawmaker added.
According to Escudero, he has always supported efforts to strengthen the system of governance by way of streamlining or reorganizing offices as needed. That is why, when he became governor of Sorsogon, one of the very first acts that he did was to reorganize and streamline the provincial government organization.
“Noong ako ay naging gobernador, isa sa mga unang hakbang na ating ginawa ay i-reorganize ang pamahalaang panlalawigan, lalo na ang Office of the Governor. Hindi naging madali ngunit sa bandang huli, ang ating ginawa ay naging kapaki-pakinabang para sa lahat,” he noted.
In signing EO No. 1 on June 30, President Marcos cited the need to reorganize the Office of the President “to achieve a comprehensive and meaningful recovery through a just allocation of resources and a simplified internal management and governance of the Office of the President and its immediate offices and common staff support system.”
“In order to achieve simplicity, economy, and efficiency in the bureaucracy without affecting disruptions in internal management and governance, the administration shall streamline processes and procedures by reorganizing…and abolishing duplicated and overlapping official functions,” the EO added.
EO No. 1, among others, abolished the PACC and transferred its jurisdiction, powers, and functions to the existing Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.
Marcos also dissolved the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and returned the Cabinet Secretariat under the direct control and supervision of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
The President also issued EO No. 2, which reorganizes the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and its attached agencies to place it under the Office of the Press Secretary, and abolishes the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson.