Marcos signs Government Optimization Act to streamline public service

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) hailed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing into law Republic Act 12231, or the Government Optimization Act, a landmark measure aimed at reshaping the executive branch for faster and more efficient delivery of public services.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman described the new law as a defining moment in the country’s push for a leaner, more responsive bureaucracy—one that, she said, “truly works for the Filipino people.”

“We likewise commend the steadfast leadership of both houses of Congress for working tirelessly to ensure the passage of this salient law,” Pangandaman said in a statement last week.

Republic Act 12231 grants the President authority to reorganize the executive branch, including merging, transferring, strengthening, or abolishing agencies and functions that are redundant or overlapping. 

The goal is to reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies and improve public service delivery while upholding transparency and social protection.

According to Pangandaman, the measure has been years in the making and reflects the government’s commitment to responsible fiscal management and genuine reform.

“More than anything, this reform is about increasing impact. It’s about streamlining our systems so we can bring government services closer to our kababayans—faster, better, and with greater accountability,” she said.

Under the law, a Committee on Optimizing the Executive Branch will be created. It will be co-chaired by the Executive Secretary and the DBM Secretary, with members from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, the Civil Service Commission, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

Pangandaman also gave assurance that government workers will not be displaced under the reform. Instead, the focus will be on proper alignment, upskilling, and maximizing each employee’s role in nation-building.

“This is your government at work, transforming not only in structure but in spirit,” she said.

The DBM also extended its gratitude to Congress, reform advocates, and civil society groups whose support made the law’s passage possible.