The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma will lead the inter-agency council for adopting the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) approach for livelihood and employment programs in the Philippines, as per President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval on Tuesday.
Secretary Laguesma was tasked by the President, and will be coordinating with other agencies and departments to oversee government resources on key programs and projects. Its designation was proposed by the Department of Budgment and Management (DBM), which was then approved by the President during the sectoral meeting.
“What we are trying to do is to cut out the duplications. I know there is a need for this. It’s just a question of getting it right,” President Marcos Jr. said.
During the sectoral meeting the DBM discussed the government’s programs, activities, and projects (PAPs), including the PCB. to prevent duplication, the PCB will ensure that the budget requirements for livelihood and employment of beneficiaries are met.
This would be in line with the President’s directive for all departments and agencies to coordinate with the DBM in the rationalization of similar, overlapping, and redundant programs and projects.
Based on the DBM’s assessment, the existing issues led to the adoption of the PCB. The results of the assessment showed that rationalizing government livelihood and employment programs would be beneficial.
The departments with the largest budget allocations among all implementing agencies are; DOLE, DSWD, and the DA.
