Government implementing agencies should prioritize programs and projects that will really address the needs of Filipino people to allocate budgets and spend money effectively, according to an economist.
Such measure was pushed by Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) President Dr. Gilberto Llanto on the sidelines of presentation of United Nation’s 2017 Economic and Social Survey for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) showing that improved fiscal management and effective governance are essential to sustaining robust economic growth and improving its quality.
Llanto said there were two critical policy initiatives, which are the tax reform package and efforts toward more efficient public spending.
“One weakness in our spending system is the lack of well designed, well prepared project proposals… Additionally, the implementing agencies should also try to improve the way they conduct business,” he said in an interview with the Philippines News Agency.
Llanto, who also served as deputy director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said government departments should identify top priorities with respect to programs and projects.
“So you have to translate the monies allocated to you by Congress into projects and programs that will really address the needs of your constituents,” he stressed.
The economist cited as an example the Department of Agriculture with a big portion of its budget going to irrigation and the post-harvest facilities, mostly designed in favour of rice production.
Llanto noted that many analysts and researchers have been recommending for the DA to strongly support high-value crops thus, there is a need to provide bigger budget and necessary technical assistance to such crops.
He identified carrageenan where the Philippines has huge comparative advantage and potential for the export market.
“Let’s just re-order things, re-prioritize things and say this is where farmers need more money,” he added.
On the other hand, Llanto said effective governance involves the “bureaucracy doing its job.” (PNA)
