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GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Senate ratifies bicam report on gov't rightsizing
The Senate on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed measure granting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. the authority to rightsize the bureaucracy. In a plenary session, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero moved to ratify the report, which harmonized the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 890 and House Bill 7240, also known as the Government Optimization Bill. Escudero said the measure intends "to make the government smaller, to make it better, more efficient, and more responsive." He also allayed concerns regarding the supposed "downsizing" of the government, saying that agencies and employees will be consulted through organizational reviews and the preparation of organizational plans. "This is no mere downsizing measure. It is about upsizing the number of personnel deployed where they can best serve the people," Escudero said. "After all, government resources come from the taxpayers' contributions and these are not an unlimited resource… Whatever we take from taxpayers' pockets must be put and rebated to them in the form of efficient and effective programs and projects," he added. Joining Escudero during the signing of the bicameral committee report on Wednesday afternoon were Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, and Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, among other officials. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier said the government could save up to P8.7 billion if the President is granted the authority to implement such changes in the bureaucracy. The Government Optimization Bill is one of the priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
EDSA rehab not canceled despite postponement —DOTr's Dizon
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday clarified that the rehabilitation of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) is not technically canceled despite its month-long postponement. Dizon made the clarification upon the interpellation of Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel during the Commission on Appointments' (CA) panel meeting to consider his ad interim appointment as chief of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). NOW: The Commission on Appointments considers the ad interim appointment of Vince Dizon as Secretary of Department of Transportation. @gmanews — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) June 3, 2025 'Hindi naman po ibig sabihin canceled... Pero sabi lang talaga ng Pangulo, nakinig siya sa ating mga kababayan, for us to find a better way and a faster way,' Dizon explained. (It doesn't mean it was canceled... But the President really just said—he listened to our countrymen—for us to find a better way and a faster way.) According to DOTr secretary, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. wants to expedite the rebuilding of the major thoroughfare from two years to six months. 'When he (the President) said a better way, he essentially meant a way that would be faster para hindi masyadong mahirapan ang ating mga kababayang dumadaan sa EDSA [so that it will not cause too much trouble to our countrymen passing EDSA],' he added. The Department of Public Works and Highways is the lead agency in the EDSA rehabilitation, which was supposed to begin on June 13. Marcos announced on Sunday the postponement of the project, saying it needs to be studied for one month to know if there are new technologies that can be used to hasten the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer road. The estimated budget for the EDSA rehabilitation which aims to modernize the major thoroughfare and make it flood-free is P8.7 billion, until the end of 2026. Dizon said that by 2027, the DPWH estimated that the budget would total to P15 billion. 'Advanced stages na ng procurement, meron na atang mga natapos na ang procurement pero alinsunod dito sa utos ng ating Pangulo na i-pause muna at maghanap ng mas maganda at mas mabilis na paraan, eh baka kailangan is mag-adjust ang DPWH dito. But again I have to defer to DPWH on this,' he said. (I think the procurement is already in advanced stages, some of the procurements have already been completed. But according to our President's order to suspend the project and find a better and faster way, the DPWH may need to adjust also. But again I have to defer to DPWH on this.) The EDSA rehabilitation was supposed to pave the way for the 24-hour odd-even scheme and the waiving of toll in parts of Skyway Stage 3, among other interventions. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
