MANILA, June 16 (PNA) — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released guidelines for the creation of full-time delivery units (FDUs) that would ensure the proper implementation of priority programs or projects that need close monitoring — like those under the “Yolanda” Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) — to help boost public spending and speed up project execution.
DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said that in accordance with Administrative Order (AO) No. 46, all agencies and departments are directed to facilitate the prompt implementation of their programs and projects via the FDUs. These FDUs will help agencies meet their respective timelines and targets for each project, as well as improve their capacity to fully utilize their budgets.
“The FDUs can help us address agency-wide problems in procurement, budget planning, and project implementation, which were notable root causes in last year’s underspending. In the process, these units can also assist us in keeping better track of expenditures under each agency,” he said.
DBM’s Circular Letter No. 2015-8 states that agency FDUs will act as “problem solvers” by coming up with delivery and execution strategies to help clear bottlenecks or delays in program/project implementation. They are also supposed to review performance measurements and identify potential risks for each program or project.
Each FDU will likewise have a DBM counterpart to work closely with. The DBM counterpart will identify organizational and operational efficiency issues that contribute to underspending, as well as recommend measures that would address these.
DBM FDUs are also tasked to identify the departments or agencies that require close monitoring. Both DBM and agency units are supposed to meet at least once a month to address bottlenecks resulting in lower-than-expected spending in departments and agencies.
“With these units monitoring the Administration’s high-priority programs and projects, the President has required strict reporting from them every seventh day of the month. Likewise, the FDUs have been ordered to fast-track post-Yolanda rehabilitation and address whatever implementation issues they may have,” Abad said.
As of May 31, 2015, the National Government has released Php84.7 billion to address the damage caused by Typhoon “Yolanda”. These funds have been charged from a variety of sources, from the Calamity Fund of the FY 2012 Budget Continuing Appropriations (Republic Act 10155) to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) of the FY 2015 Budget (RA 10651), as well as two Supplemental Appropriations (RA 10634 and RA 10652).
The top five agencies that received the biggest amount of releases were: the Department of Social Welfare and Development (Php28.8 billion), the National Housing Authority (Php21.4 billion), the Department of Education (Php4.68 billion), the Department of Interior and Local Government (Php4.48 billion), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (Php4.46 billion),
The following are the top 10 agencies with the largest releases:
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) — Augmentation of DSWD QRF for General Fund Assistance; Central Office – National Project Monitoring Office; General Food Distribution/Supplemental Feeding Program; Livelihood Assistance and Cash for Work; Emergency Shelter Assistance.
National Housing Authority (NHA) — Assistance to families in “no-build” zones; Implementation of the FY 2013 Emergency Housing Assistance for Calamity Victims Program; Construction of additional permanent housing of Yolanda victims in Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII, and VIII; Construction of housing units.
Department of Education (DepEd) — Provision of school seats in newly-constructed classrooms (119,070 armchairs and 2,646 teacher’s table and chair); Repair and rehabilitation of classrooms; Construction and/or renovation of Library Hubs.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) — Municipal Halls, Public Markets, Civic Centers/Evacuation Centers, Police Stations, Fire Prevention and Suppression Activities, Supervision, Security, and Control over District, City, and Municipal, and other rehabilitation projects.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) — Various infrastructure projects; Repair/maintenance of the roadside structures and government buildings in affected areas; Rehabilitation/construction of various flood control structures.
National Electrification Agency (NEA) — Rehabilitation of damaged distribution facilities of Electric Cooperatives affected by Typhoon Yolanda amounting to Php3,929,360,000.
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) — Coconut tree disposal and utilization; Coconut fertilization with total amount of Php2,868,690,000.
Department of Agriculture (DA) — Provision of banca and other fishing paraphernalia for affected fishermen; Government facilities; Assistance to affected farmers (irrigation)/aquaculture amounting to Php2,774,289,785.
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) — Sea lift and relief operations; Redevelopment/reconstruction of Tacloban Airport; Provision of delivery trucks; Repair/rehabilitation of various ports and government buildings which totaled Php2,314,227,790.
Department of Finance (DOF)/Bureau of Treasury (BTr) — To cover the requirements of the Credit Support Fund to provide assistance to victims which totaled Php2,000,000,000.
*includes requirements for Bohol earthquake
**includes requirements for Typhoons Isang, Quinta, Juaning, and Emong.
Of the total amount of Php84.7 billion, the top 10 agencies took Php78.1 billion with the remaining Php6.6 billion divided across different agencies and Government-Owned-or-Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).
Aside from the Yolanda CRRP, FDUs will also handle other programs and projects that are integral to the key priorities of the National Government, like social services, infrastructure, and agriculture.
At the department level, Abad said, the FDU head — designated by the department to act as the point person — shall be at the level of the Undersecretary. A full-time Secretariat in each FDU will also assist each unit in terms of management and administrative support.
“In both our Yolanda efforts and our other priority programs, the Aquino administration through the DBM has made great strides in ensuring adequate funding support. We’ll have to continue working on speeding up government spending, however. The faster agencies spend their budgets, the faster that public goods and services can be delivered to the people,” he said. (PNA)