KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR CABINET MEMBERS

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR CABINET MEMBERS

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s recent cabinet shake-up has generated interest not just because of who stayed and who was replaced, but also because of what the reshuffling says about measuring performance. After what was described as a “recalibration,” six Cabinet members were retained, two were reassigned, two were “promoted,” and one new appointee—Tess Lazaro—was brought in. The big question is: what was the basis for these movements? Were these decisions backed by a clear, objective performance review process? And if so, what were the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used?

In modern governance, performance-based evaluation is not just a best practice—it is a necessity. Cabinet members function as chief executives of their respective departments. Their roles are critical in achieving the administration’s goals, and as such, they should be held accountable using concrete, transparent metrics. The idea of KPIs is not new in government. In fact, the Performance-Based Bonus (PBB) and the Performance Governance System (PGS) were designed to encourage results-oriented public services delivery.

If a performance review was indeed conducted, the public deserves to know what criteria were used. Was it a simple "pass or fail" system? Or were officials graded based on quantifiable outputs and outcomes, such as project completion rates, budget utilization efficiency, or improvements in service delivery? Were there qualitative assessments too, like leadership effectiveness, crisis response, and inter-agency collaboration? And crucially, who conducted the review—the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), or an external auditing body?

Transparency is key. If this reshuffle was truly performance-driven, the public has every right to ask: will the results be published? Citizens are entitled to know who performed, who underperformed, and why. After all, Cabinet members are public servants paid with taxpayer money, and their departments directly affect national welfare. In private corporations, executive reviews are often internal, but in public service, accountability is a cornerstone of legitimacy.

This brings us to the interesting case of Tess Lazaro, the newest face in the Cabinet. By all accounts, she is a competent technocrat with a track record in diplomacy. Her appointment may signal the President’s desire to bring in professionals who prioritize results over politics. If that is the new standard, then it's a step in the right direction.

However, this moment also exposes a gap in the current governance approach. There must be a formalized, institutional performance monitoring system for all Cabinet secretaries—something integrated and published, perhaps quarterly or annually. Such a system would not only ensure accountability but would also foster a culture of continuous improvement.

In the end, the call for KPIs is not just about evaluation; it's about transformation. It is about setting the tone for a results-driven government—one where service delivery is measured, excellence is rewarded, and the public is always informed. If PBBM wants a “fiercely intense” Cabinet, as Palace insiders suggest, then it must begin with performance indicators that are fierce, fair, and fully transparent.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

06-22-2025

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES?

HOW IS THE CRIME RATE COMPUTED IN THE PHILIPPINES? When we talk about the crime rate in the Philippines, we often assume that the figures we see are accurate reflections of reality. But have we ever paused to ask—how exactly is the crime rate computed? Where does this data come from, and how reliable is it? The computation of the crime rate in the Philippines is officially handled by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The formula itself is straightforward: Crime Rate = (Total Reported Crimes / Total Population) x 100,000 This simple equation gives us the number of crimes per 100,000 people, allowing for fair comparison across regions and time periods. However, the reality behind these numbers is more complex than it appears. Data from the Ground The foundation of our national crime rate is empirical data collected at the grassroots level—from individual police stations scattered across the country. Every reported crime is logged in local police blotters, forming the buil...
Read more

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS

GREY AREAS IN GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS Dear Mr. President: May I ask who is going to be the arbiter or referee whenever there are overlaps in functions between two or more government agencies? I imagine that there would be no problem if these agencies would just cooperate and collaborate with each other, but what if they are unable to settle their differences and they would just end up throwing blame at each other or finger pointing at each other? Allow me to cite some examples. Who is supposed to take the lead in waste to energy projects? Is it supposed to be the DENR that is supposed to handle waste? Or is it supposed to be the DOE that is supposed to handle energy generation? Or is it supposed to be the DILG since it is the one that could direct or influence the waste to energy projects of LGUs? Who is supposed to take the lead in producing and promoting the use of biofuels? Is it supposed to be the DA, since the production of biofuels is supposed to be all about planting biofuel ...
Read more

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES

LOCALIZED FREE AMBULANCE SERVICES As it is supposed to be, anyone in the Philippines should be able to dial 911, and a telephone operator should be able to dispatch fire, rescue, ambulance and police (FRAP) units as soon as possible, based on acceptable response times. I invented the FRAP acronym for easy recall, and I hope it sticks, if there is no other alternative. Unfortunately, due to a mixture of technical and political reasons, the Philippines has not adopted 911 as a national number, because some LGUs would rather use their own three-digit numbers such as 117 and 168. I actually proposed a technical solution to that problem, but it was not adopted either. For whatever it is worth, my solution is to install a call forwarding system that could route all calls to a central operator, regardless of what number is dialed. It is very sad for me to know that up to now, even if our country is already over one hundred years old, there are still many LGUs that do not have fire trucks. it ...
Read more