70% of TLRC workers opt to retire early

ANGELES CITY — The Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) reported yesterday that it has reduced its personnel by 70 percent under the government’s "rationalization" program, which is expected to yield some P123.4 million in government savings.

TLRC deputy director general Dennis Cunanan said 193 of the agency’s employees opted to retire under the program as stipulated in Executive Order 366 which all government agencies were supposed to carry out last year.

Cunanan said the TLRC has become even more efficient in delivering services to its clients despite the voluntary retirements, which trimmed down its manpower to only 87.

"Our implementing the rationalization plan would mean yearly savings of P55 million," he said.

Malacañang issued EO 366 last year to "cut the fat" in the government bureaucracy, including governmentowned or controlled corporations, by abolishing redundant positions and offering financial benefits to those affected or those who would opt to retire early.

While some agencies such as the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have implemented the program, the TLRC has been noted to be the only agency to have reduced its personnel by over a hundred percent.

Other agencies have sought an extension in implementing the program.

Cunanan said "only essential positions" were retained at the TLRC "so that one office no longer retains four clerks nor does the office need to spend for salaries of typesetters despite the fact that it does not have a printing press of its own."

The TLRC supports the private sector in livelihood enterprises through technology transfer and granting of livelihood loans.

Cunanan said the TLRC is expected to further reduce its expenditures as it now requires a smaller space to rent for its offices.

"We expect savings of another P68.4 million from this," he said.

Noting that the TLRC has been one of the governmentowned corporations "that have been sustaining losses in the past years," Cunanan is confident that "we can look forward to the first positive yearend figures" because of the rationalization program.

He said the TLRC plans to move its main offices from Pasig City to a smaller one in San Juan as part of the second phase of the agency’s austerity program.

He said this would lead to another P4.5 million in savings.

Cunanan said the 193 employees who retired early were given additional benefits on top of what they were supposed to receive from the Government Service Insurance System and the PagIBIG Fund.