Marcos tasks gov’t agencies to improve spending on social protection programs

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has tasked government agencies to improve spending on programs that are related to social protection, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said Tuesday.

At a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Laguesma said the aim is to prepare the Philippine workforce for opening the economy as well as the expected influx of foreign investors.

“Mayroon na pong tagubilin sa amin na mahigpit ang Pangulo na naririyan ang pondo, lalo na ang may kinalaman sa social protection programs ng pamahalaan, dapat maipagkaloob natin iyan sa mga intended beneficiaries,”  Laguesma said.

(The President has a directive to us that the funds are there, especially if it's all about social protection programs, this should be given to beneficiaries.)

“Kaya ang catch-up plan po namin ay kasama iyong collaboration at saka partnership, not just with the local government units, but also with our legislators and most importantly po, sa private sector," he added.

(Our catch-up plan is to have collaboration and partnership with LGUs, legislators, and private sectors.)

The President led the sectoral meeting in Malacañang to address underspending and to determine the steps that will improve agency budget utilization.

Government agencies presented during the meeting their respective “catch-up plans” to hasten the delivery of social services.

Laguesma said Marcos wants to focus on the employability of the Filipino youth to prepare them for the future, especially for the post-pandemic opening of the economy. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News