Definitions of Key Terms in Streamlining Functions, Activities, and Projects
- Program: Major purpose-related functions and activities requiring agency establishment.
- Project: Component of a program with identifiable output implemented within a timeframe.
- Abolition: One-time elimination of a function, activity, or project.
- Phase-out: Gradual elimination through sequential abolition of components.
- Scale down: Reduction in intensity, coverage, services, or outputs.
- Strengthening/Expansion: Increase in targets, outputs, resources, or widened coverage.
General Principles for Streamlining Functions and Projects
- Prioritization based on contribution to agency mandate and government priorities.
- Exclusion of functions devolved to local government by the Local Government Code.
- Abolitions must not violate existing laws or enabling agency acts.
Specific Guidelines for Abolition or Phase-out
- Remove functions/projects irrelevant to agency mandate or government priorities.
- Eliminate duplicative, overlapping, redundant, or outdated functions.
- Abolish functions/projects not achieving objectives or cost-inefficient.
- Consider abolishing areas unnecessarily duplicated by the private sector.
Criteria for Scaling Down Functions and Projects
- Reduce geographical coverage, focusing on priority areas.
- Limit demographic or clientele coverage to most urgent needs.
Criteria for Expansion or Strengthening
- Incorporate necessary but currently unaddressed functions under related programs.
- Strengthen priority functions by expanding coverage, types of services, quality, and resource inputs.
Department/Agency Formal Structure: Definitions and Principles
- Organic units: Internal parts of departments such as bureaus and offices.
- Attached agencies: Entities attached for coordination but with separate budgets.
- Clear function distribution among units required.
- Units created by law may be rendered dormant but not abolished if their functions cease.
- Units without legal creation may be abolished if functions removed.
- Internal structure may be streamlined or expanded without increasing total organic units.
Guidelines on Structural Changes
- Merge or consolidate overlapping units with redefined functions and resources.
- Expand units receiving transferred functions or expanded programs.
- No creation of new attached agencies; existing ones cannot be abolished or merged.
- Structure adjustments must not increase supervisory levels.
Staffing Pattern General Principles
- Conform to Salary Standardization Law and position classification rules.
- Promote unity of command and alignment of authority and responsibility.
- Prioritize frontline and substantive function units for position distribution.
- Salary budget should not exceed 1992 authorized levels.
Specific Staffing Guidelines
- Regular positions must not exceed incumbents as of January 1992.
- Vacant positions filled only with Civil Service Commission approval, aligned to streamlining goals.
- Positions may be reclassified, merged, abolished, or created subject to laws.
- All vacant or vacated positions from streamlining must be abolished.
- Personnel transfers between units allowed under Civil Service rules.
Use of Savings from Streamlining
- Savings defined as unencumbered balances after completion or abandonment of work or from unpaid costs.
- Savings may augment agency programs, prioritizing salary standardization, bonuses, and retirement benefits.
- Restrictions apply: no funds for unauthorized vehicles, foreign travel (except specific cases), unauthorized honoraria, or investment in non-government securities.
- Budget modifications require DBM approval within 15 days.
- Realignments must conform to approved work and financial plans.
Streamlining Process Recommendation
- Agencies may adopt a planned process to facilitate streamlining of functions, structure, and staffing.
Reporting Procedure
- Departments must submit comprehensive Streamlining Reports for all units and attached agencies.
- Deadline for submission to DBM: October 3, 1992.
Provision of Technical Assistance
- Department of Budget and Management to provide requested technical support.
- Cooperation of agency officials is critical for success of streamlining efforts.