MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently approved the Philippine Civil Service Modernization (PCSM) project to enhance the efficiency of the government's human resource management systems.
In a statement on Friday, NEDA said the project was approved during the Board's meeting on Aug. 28.
The PCSM project, spearheaded by the Civil Service Commission, aims to further modernize public sector processes.
The projects seeks to streamline and simplify the human resource information systems across various government agencies and will be initially implemented in 39 pilot government agencies in 2025.
The implementation will be expanded to 1,187 government agencies within the next decade.
“The public sector employs nearly two million individuals who are essential to the provision of public services. If the system lacks efficiency, and government agencies are not interconnected, we cannot optimize our service delivery," NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
"By implementing new technologies, the project will automate and digitalize processes to enhance efficiency, leading to better coordination and response times, more accurate payroll processing, and streamlined recruitment and onboarding,” he added.
Balisacan said NEDA expects improvements in government productivity and will closely monitor the project's implementation and progress to accelerate its rollout.
Aside from the PCSM, the NEDA Board has also confirmed the ad referendum approval of the extension for the submission of comparative proposals for the upgrade, expansion, operations, and maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport until Sept. 13, 2024.
“Upon the end of the challenge period for the Laguindingan airport, if there is no challenger, the project is expected to be awarded by end of September. Meanwhile if there is a challenge placed, the award of the project is be expected to be made by mid of December this year,” Balisacan said.
The Board also approved an increase in the budget and an extension of the loan validity and implementation period for the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project (MMPBSIP).
The approved increase in the project cost of the MMPBSIP amounts to PHP2.406 billion, bringing the total cost to PHP10.339 billion.
The additional funding will be for the increase in civil works, the procurement of additional materials, and modifications in the installation method.
The MMPBSIP aims to mitigate the effects of large-scale earthquakes in Metro Manila through the replacement, retrofitting, and strengthening of the Guadalupe Bridge and the Lambingan Bridge.
The NEDA Board, likewise, approved the extension of the project’s implementation period to Dec. 30, 2028, along with the extensions of the validity of the Japan International Cooperation Agency loans for the MMPBSIP.
“These major projects approved by the NEDA Board are expected to further enhance our country’s economic productivity as we invest in initiatives that promote a more robust and sustainable development trajectory in the long term,” Balisacan said. (PNA)
