Issue No. 43/October 2021
BY: RIZZA JOY D. BARRAS, AO V
Where are we now?
This was the basic question that agencies answered during the FY 2021 Mid-Year Agency Performance Review (APR) Consultations and Full-Time Delivery Unit (FDU) Meetings conducted by the DBM Ocho last month.
The meetings were intended to present the agencies’ performances and acknowledge the top performing agencies, identify reasons for the unmet targets, and determine the necessary catch-up plans in line with DBM Circular Letter (CL) No. 2015-811 dated June 8, 2015 and CL No. 2018-132 dated November 22, 2018. Given the overlapping budget activities such as the upcoming FY 2023 budget preparation process and the FY 2022 budget authorization, conducting mid-year review is crucial as it helps fast track program implementation.
“People expect nothing less from the government. We should continue to deliver our mandate and find ways to improve our performance despite the pandemic,” Regional Director Imelda Laceras emphasized.
During the meetings’ technical session, the lead divisions presented the prior year’s performance review results of their agency coverage, with emphasis on the financial and physical performances and the corresponding reasons and justifications.
After which, representatives from the agencies presented the status and mid-year performance for FY 2021, highlighting the implementation successes in three aspects of review: physical, financial and income performance. They also tackled some effective approaches for good performance such as strategic planning, early procurement and due coordination within the agency; as well as the problems encountered and the identified catch-up plans.
RD Laceras then gave her comments and feedback, particularly to agencies with low budget utilization rates (BUR). “[To help improve budget utilization,] agencies should strengthen their procurement management as this helps in the timely implementation of programs and projects." She also reiterated the importance of full budget utilization to ensure that the region benefits from the government’s programs and activities and that the budget will not be put to waste.
1ST FDU MEETING
The Technical Division C, supervised by Ms. Florita M. Lacdo-o, commenced the conduct of the FDU Meeting and FY 2021 Mid-Year APR consultation last September 1, 2021. Said division is in charge of 10 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), CHED Regional Office VIII, and TESDA Regional Office VIII and its seven supervised vocational schools.
Meanwhile, in recognition of the agencies’ good performance, DBM Ocho awarded top performing agencies with certificates to acknowledge their full compliance with the requirements including timely submission of reports, as well as on their physical and financial achievements. Before the activity ended, Assistant Director Aleli Hernandez stressed the importance of accurate data in monitoring physical performance as this helps ensure the identification of appropriate actions needed to address issues and bottlenecks encountered during program implementation. It also helps assess what helped in achieving the target and what did not.
Likewise, she added that the concept of resilience should be incorporated in target setting to provide flexibility in addressing unforeseen concerns. For those agencies with low BUR, she suggested that they ensure their projects for funding are all implementation-ready. They should also consider the implementation of the Annual Cash Budgeting System and the conduct of the early procurement short of award subject to Procurement Law. Assistant Director Hernandez also reminded the agencies to observe existing rules under Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and its revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) and other related issuances to expedite the conduct of procurement activities. She also suggested to maximize the use of information and communications technology such as video conferencing, web casting and similar technology in the conduct of any meeting and determination of quorum by the Bids and Awards Committee to better adopt to the new normal. In closing, she shared a quotation from Winston Churchill, “It is no use saying we are doing our best; you have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.”
2ND FDU MEETING
On September 15, 2021, the Technical Division B, headed by Ms. Juvy A. Lobedica, conducted two batches of FDU meetings, one in the morning with the Department of Health (DOH) including its three implementing units in the morning session, and the second one in the afternoon with the Department of Public and Highways (DPWH) and its 13 implementing units.
3RD FDU MEETING
Technical Division A is the lead division for the Department of Education (DepEd). Ms. Liberace N. Limsiaco, OICCBMS, led the FDU Meeting with DepEd and its 13 implementing units last September 20, 2021.
