Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 8th, 2026
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and reviewed a preliminary presentation by Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, on the draft legislative authorisation regarding crimes and criminal procedure in cybersecurity, and on the definition of the legal framework for national cyberspace.
The initiative aims to develop a comprehensive legislative package on cybersecurity, covering the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the legal framework for national cyberspace security, the framework for digital services, and the criminal and criminal procedural framework applicable to crimes committed in the digital environment.
The purpose of this legislative initiative is to strengthen the national legal framework for cybersecurity, the prevention and combating of cybercrime, the protection of the national cyberspace, and the response to threats and risks associated with the digital environment, in accordance with constitutional principles and international standards in this area.
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Following the presentation by the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, at the Meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 1st, regarding the project to build the FALINTIL-Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL – acronym in Portuguese) Military Hospital, carried out within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste and the People’s Republic of China, the Council of Ministers today approved the draft Government Resolution establishing the Interministerial Committee to Oversee the Military Hospital Construction Project (Timor-Leste–China Friendship Hospital).
The committee, which is technical and advisory in nature, will ensure coordination among the public entities involved, oversee all phases of the project, monitor compliance with deadlines and with technical and legal requirements, and identify any potential constraints while promoting coordinated solutions.
The Government Resolution stipulates that the committee shall carry out its duties through two working groups: one for executive coordination, comprising members of the Government and their representatives, and another for technical oversight of the project, which brings together representatives from various ministries, public institutions, and experts, with the aim of ensuring the project’s successful implementation and its alignment with the national health system and the State’s strategic priorities.
The establishment of this committee aims to ensure the successful implementation of the project by promoting high standards of quality, transparency, and efficiency. The Timor-Leste–China Friendship Hospital will strengthen the operational capacity of the F-FDTL, complement the services of the National Health Service, improve emergency response, and contribute to strengthening national capacity in the health sector, benefiting the Defence Forces and the general population.
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The Council of Ministers approved the draft government resolution, presented by the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, establishing the Commission on Civic Education for Peace and Development.
This Government Resolution approves the framework that sets out the Commission’s objectives, principles, and structure, and establishes the Commission as a coordinating mechanism for developing strategies and coordinating actions to promote civic education at the national level, with a focus on peace and development.
The Commission aims to strengthen citizens’ civic awareness and promote a culture of peace grounded in the principles of nonviolence, democracy, reconciliation, and active participation in national development. To this end, it will coordinate the efforts of ministries and other relevant entities, in collaboration with local authorities, bilateral, regional, and multilateral partners, civil society, and the wider community.
The concept that has now been approved also defines the Commission’s operational structure, organised around an Interministerial Commission, an Executive Committee, a Secretariat, and three intervention programmes: Education for Citizenship, Partnership for Peace, and Community Initiative. The implementation of its activities will be subject to regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the established objectives are met.
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Rui Pereira dos Santos, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (CAC), presented the Executive Summary of the Second Review Cycle on the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption to the Council of Ministers.
The second review cycle focuses on the implementation of the Convention’s provisions on measures to prevent corruption and asset recovery. Under this peer review mechanism among States Parties, coordinated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), each country’s legal, institutional, and operational framework is analysed through a process that includes a self-assessment, peer review by other States Parties, and country visits. At the end of the process, an executive summary is prepared, summarising the progress made, the main challenges identified, and recommendations to strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption.
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The Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the ongoing work to draft the 2026–2030 Medium-Term Plan, as part of the final phase of implementing the 2011–2030 Strategic Development Plan.
The presentation focused on assessing progress in implementing the 2011–2030 Strategic Development Plan and on identifying adjustments to be incorporated into the 2026–2030 Medium-Term Plan, taking into account changing economic conditions and multidimensional national challenges.
The main conclusions of this assessment were also presented, along with the strategic policy guidelines for the periods 2026–2030 and 2031–2035, the priorities for the main development sectors, and a set of short-term priority actions to support the implementation of these guidelines.
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The Minister of Finance, Santina José Rodrigues F. Viegas Cardoso, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the preparation of the General State Budget (GSB) for 2027, focusing on adopting a budgeting approach based on political priorities and using future estimates as the basis for the budgetary process.
The presentation focused on the process of preparing the 2027 GSB, including an update on the work carried out by the Policy Review Committee, the Government’s policy priorities under consideration, the methodology for developing the respective proposals, and the framework for multiyear budget estimates. The next steps in the process were also outlined, which include the drafting of proposals by the responsible entities, their review by the Ministry of Finance, and the subsequent evaluation of budgetary options.
Following the presentation, the Council of Ministers endorsed the Policy Review Committee’s guidance on the Government’s 28 Policy Priorities, including the identification of the entities responsible for drafting the detailed proposals, with multi-year cost estimates, the implementation timeline, and the framework for monitoring and evaluation using performance indicators. The Council of Ministers also endorsed the Future Estimates, which will serve as the basis for preparing the GSB for the next five years.
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Lastly, the Council of Ministers decided to approve an indicative ceiling of 2.1 billion U.S. dollars for the 2027 General State Budget. END
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0
Today, July 7th, 2026, Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Government Spokesperson, met at the Government Palace in Dili with Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, President of the Civil Service Commission (CFP), and the other commissioners of the institution to monitor progress on public administration reform and review the development of the proposal to establish the Single Career System for Public Administration. 
During the meeting, the Civil Service Commission presented the work carried out in line with the priorities set out in Order No. 02/GPM/I/2025 and Government Resolution No. 58/2025, dated October 15th, which guide the reform of human resources management in the public administration.
An update was also provided on the progress of preparations for the Single Career System Policy for the Public Administration of Timor-Leste. The document, currently under development, sets out, among other aspects, the definition of career structures, the downsizing of the civil service workforce, proposals for salary adjustments, the integration of the Integrated Civil Service Management System (SIGAP) with the payroll system, and a training programme to develop technical, functional, and leadership skills.
The Commission also reported that it is preparing a national seminar on the development of the Single Career System, aimed at members of the Government, public administration officials, and municipal leaders. The seminar aims to present the policy proposal, gather input from participants, and establish a common vision for implementing the reform. Topics to be covered include the public administration reform promoted by the 9th Constitutional Government, the modernisation of human resources management, the improvement of public service quality, and the strengthening of the principles of merit, professionalism, and impartiality.
Regarding human resources capacity building, an update was also provided on the development of a public service values (character-building) programme established under Government Resolution No. 58/2025. The first phase of the initiative was implemented with a pilot group of 100 members of the Prison Guard and officials from the Ministry of Justice. The second phase is currently being prepared.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the project to build a Training Centre for Civil Servants in Atabae, within the municipality of Bobonaro, and to take stock of the implementation of the Mandatory Retirement Scheme.
The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers emphasised the importance of ensuring that the measures currently under development as part of the public administration reform and the modernisation of the management of the government’s human resources contribute to a more efficient and professional public administration focused on delivering quality services to citizens.
The meeting was attended by Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, President of the Civil Service Commission, and by Commissioners José Telo Soares Cristóvão, responsible for Workforce Planning; Agapito da Conceição, responsible for Discipline; Anita Tavares Ribeiro de Jesus, responsible for Special Career Development; and Jorge Paiva Araújo, responsible for Pensions and Retirement. Minister Agio Pereira was accompanied by the Director-General of Administration, Pedro Feno, and the Chief of Staff, Vítor Maia.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Press Release
The Government extends its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Father João Felgueiras
The Government of Timor-Leste extends its deepest condolences regarding the passing of Father João Vasconcelos Baptista Felgueiras, S.J., who died today, July 3rd, in Dili, at the age of 105.
Born in Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal, on June 9th, 1921, Father João Felgueiras arrived in Timor-Leste in 1971 to serve as vice-rector of the Seminary of the Diocese of Dili. A Jesuit missionary, he dedicated more than half a century to serving the Timorese people. As a Portuguese-language teacher, educator, and missionary, he contributed to the education of successive generations of Timorese and to the preservation and promotion of the Portuguese language, even during the years when its use was prohibited under Indonesian occupation.
After the Indonesian invasion of 1975, he chose to remain in Timor-Leste, despite the personal risks and recommendations to leave the territory, standing with the Timorese people during one of the most difficult periods in their history. His pastoral, educational, and humanitarian mission made an important contribution to preserving national identity and promoting solidarity, human dignity, and hope.
His dedication to education and human development also led to the creation and promotion of initiatives with significant social impact, notably through the Social Charitable Aid Fund of the Society of Jesus (FACSI – acronym in Portuguese) and the Friends of Jesus Community, which enabled the award of scholarships to hundreds of young East Timorese, many of whom went on to assume important roles in government and society. His legacy also lives on in institutions such as the Padre António Vieira Youth Centre and the Amigos de Jesus School, which bear witness to his enduring commitment to educating future generations.
In recognition of his outstanding service to Timor-Leste and its people, he was honoured by the Timorese government with the Insignia of the Order of Timor-Leste in 2009 and, in 2022, with the Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the nation’s highest honour. In 2011, he was also granted Timorese citizenship in recognition of his distinguished and significant service to the country. Portugal likewise honoured his career by awarding him the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Liberty in 2002 and the Grand Cross of the Order of Camões in 2022. In 2024, during his Apostolic Visit to Timor-Leste, Pope Francis paid him a personal tribute in recognition of his long mission in the service of the Timorese people.
The legacy of Father João Felgueiras will forever be linked to the history of Timor-Leste. His life of service, courage, solidarity, and dedication stands as an example of commitment to education, justice, human dignity, and national development. It will endure in the memory and gratitude of the Timorese people.
Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Government Spokesperson, states, “At this time of mourning, the Government extends its deepest condolences to the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Church, his family, friends, former students, and all the people of Timor-Leste. We share in the sorrow of his passing and pay tribute to the memory of a man who made Timor-Leste his homeland—both in mission and in heart.” END
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0
