The Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG) is striving to strengthen its mandates through proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 10149, commonly known as the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.
“In order to efficiently operate as a regulatory body for the GOCC sector, RA 10149 is proposed to be amended to address issues and clarify and strengthen the powers and functions of the GCG,” Alex Quiroz, GCG chairperson, said in a statement yesterday.
Established under RA 10149, the GCG is preparing to mark its 12th anniversary next month.
Throughout its years of operation, issues have been raised regarding the scope and legality of the commission’s authority as outlined in its charter.
Last May 25, GCG officials met with House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez to discuss the proposed amendments.
Gideon Mortel, GCG commissioner, said draft bills were already prepared for submission to the House leadership, following his discussions with Parañaque First District Representative Edwin Olivarez, who serves as the chairperson of the House committee on government enterprises and privatization.
In December 2022, the GCG also submitted its proposed amendments to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who chairs the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises.
One of the significant aspects of the proposed amendments is the standardization of the definition of GOCCs.
To streamline its operations and maintain efficiency, the GCG is also pushing for fixed terms of office for the GCG chairperson and commissioners as well as the establishment of an office for a GCG executive director.
In an effort to strengthen its oversight capabilities, the commission is appealing to Congress for subpoena and contempt powers, investigative authority, and disciplinary powers.
Additionally, the GCG is seeking express power to consolidate, rationalize and integrate GOCCs into national government agencies (NGAs).
The agency likewise seeks to be granted the authority to determine the appropriate incentive programs for all employees affected by any rationalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, integration into an NGA, abolition or privatization of GOCCs.
Quiroz said a study of the profiles of GOCCs under the GCG indicates that some GOCCs have functions that are duplicative of what is already being carried out by other NGAs or GOCCs.
“We can recommend to the Office of the President that it would be economical for those GOCCs which are not financially viable, but are performing vital public service, to be converted into or transferred to NGAs,” Quiroz said.
