Initiation and the Implementation of a National Cost Reduction Program

February 3, 1977

LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 506

WHEREAS, the energy crisis and the world economic situation require that government take steps to economize in its operations; aisa dc

WHEREAS, responsibility for effective and efficient operation of agencies of government is lodged with their respective agency heads and managerial staff;

WHEREAS, the principal task of the Management Office of the Budget Commission is the promotion of efficiency and economy in the government service;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, do hereby order and direct the following measures intended to achieve greater economy in government operations:

1.  All heads of Departments, Bureaus, Offices and Agencies of government, including government-owned and controlled corporations, shall initiate, develop and implement a Cost Reduction Program which will result in increased economy in the operations of their respective agencies. cdt

2.  The Cost Reduction Program of each agency shall be reflected in a specification of objectives, targets, procedures, and generally the projects and mechanism for identifying and effecting cost reduction in agency operations, covering both current operating expenditures and capital outlays.

3.  The implementation of the Cost Reduction Program shall be monitored and guided by the Management Services/Staffs of agencies who shall be organized into a National Committee and Departmental Committees for purposes of coordination. Sub-Committees may be created as necessary.

4.  The National Cost Reduction Committee shall consist of the Director of the Management Office of the Budget Commission as Chairman and as members, the Chiefs of the Financial and Management Services of all Departments of the national government.

5.  The Department Cost Reduction Committee in each Department of the national government shall consist of the Department's Financial and Management Service Chief as Chairman and as members, the heads of the Management Divisions (or equivalent) in all the bureaus, offices, agencies comprising or attached to the Department, including government owned and controlled corporations.

6.  The National Committee shall develop the specific guidelines, operating arrangements, and other details needed to implement the Cost Reduction Program, shall prepare a Quarterly Report to the President on the results of the Program and shall submit such recommendations as may be called for to generalize and to formalize economy measures identified.

7.  The Budget Commission, through its Management Office, shall extend technical assistance to the Committees and to individual agencies, to ensure the successful implementation of the program.

8.  Expenses of the Committee may be borne by the respective participating agencies and, subject to approval of the Commissioner of the Budget, by the Budget Improvement Project. cd i

9.  Incentive awards for meritorious suggestions and accomplishments in Cost Reduction may be proposed by the National and Departmental Committees, in accordance with Sec. 33 of P.D. No. 807 and Sec. 1-f, Letter of Implementation No. 44.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 3rd of February, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Seven.