Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) to further streamline the administrative structure of the Office of the President “as part of continuing efforts towards efficient and responsiveness in the delivery of its critical mandates” to Filipinos.
According to EO 11, which Marcos signed on Dec. 29, 2022 and posted Wednesday on the Official Gazette website, the OP will now consist of five major offices under the president’s direct control and supervision.
‘
These are the Executive Office, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Private Office, Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), and the Office of the Press Secretary which Marcos renamed to Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
‘
The PCO is responsible for “crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing, and coordinating the messaging system of the Executive branch and the Office of the President.”
‘
Marcos has yet to appoint a Press Secretary after Trixie Cruz-Angeles resigned due to health reasons. Cheloy Garafil acts as the officer-in-charge.
‘
EO 11 also said the Private Office will now oversee the Protocol Office and Social Secretary’s Office, and attend to the needs of the president and the first family.
‘
The OSAP, on the other hand, will direct presidential assistants and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office to push Marcos’ priority measures in Congress.
‘
In the new structure, the Executive Office headed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin will now have direct supervision and control over the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) — which was formerly under the OSAP.
‘
The PMS performs the functions of the Cabinet secretariat, assisting the president in establishing agenda topics for Cabinet deliberation, and facilitating discussions of Cabinet meetings.
‘
“For this purpose, the Cabinet Clusters System shall be under the PMS,” the order said.
‘
“The PMS shall also exercise administrative supervision over the Correspondence Office,” it added.
‘
PMS currently has no chief as Naida Angping asked for time off work last Dec. 2.
‘
