All 20 undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were asked by DSWD chief Rex Gatchalian to submit their courtesy resignations as part of the government’s rightsizing and streamlining program.
During the deliberations of proposed DSWD budget for 2024, Gatchalian said the officials will be subject to evaluation.
Aside from turning in their courtesty resignations, the DSWD chief said the officials must also give justification for their fitness and the need to revert to their previous position.
Gatchalian disclosed the move after Senator Christopher Go raised the issue of too many undersecretaries and assistant secretaries in the department.
For her part, Senator Imee Marcos said she was surprised to learn that less than 10 percent of the positions in the DSWD are permanent.
“Are you serioues, less than 10% are permanent?” the senator said.
“Yes, this deparment is growing bigger and bigger every year. Over the years, the department kept on growing. It’s like Lego, which was being attached without without really adjusting,” Gatchalian said.
However, the DSWD chief said his office is already coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management for the rightsizing in their agency.
Senator Raffy Tulfo also expressed dismay that until now, job order and contract-of-service positions exist at the DSWD.
He noted that some DSWD employees have been working there for 15 years at the minimum yet have not yet been given a regular position.
Marcos said based on the data of the agency, 53.4 percent of its employees are contractual and JO positions.
DBM’s Pol Vincent Perocho said majority of the non-permanent positions in the DSWD or about 12,055 contractual positions are for the 4Ps social protection program.
Gatchalian said the department has been asking the DBM for additional plantilla positions but due to strict fiscal space, their request has not yet been granted.