CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF OF STAFF AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

WHEREAS, the Office of the President is
the seat of power of government in the country and the Office where
policies and decisions affecting the country emanate; 

WHEREAS, in
view of the critical nature of the Office of the President, there is a
need to ensure that all internal policies, systems, procedures and
activities are coordinated and responsive to the requirements of the
Presidency to enable her to perform her functions effectively and
efficiently; 

WHEREAS, the Office of the President is committed
to the implementation of the government’s reform agenda directed at
reducing poverty, accelerating economic growth and improving the quality
of life of the Filipino people; 

WHEREAS, there is a need for a
mechanism that will coordinate the activities, operations, systems and
processes directly affecting the Presidency, to ensure the effective and
efficient delivery of staff support services to the President and to
enhance the President’s communications strategy aimed at generating
increased public awareness and participation; 

WHEREAS, Section
31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of Executive Order No. 292, series
of 1987, otherwise known as the “Administrative Code of 1987,” provides
that the President shall have continuing authority to reorganize the
administrative structure of the Office of the President. 

NOW,
THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby
order the following: 

SECTION 1. Creation of the Office of
the Presidential Chief of Staff. — There is hereby created in the
Office of the President a support staff in the Private Office called the
Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff (OPCS). It shall assist the
President by providing direct services to the President in the
management of her day-to-day activities and requirements, and provide
inputs in the President’s decision-making. As direct support staff to
the President, the OPCS shall have the primary function of supervising
and ensuring an efficient and responsive day-to-day operational support
to the Presidency to enable the President to focus on more important
national concerns. This includes:

1.1 Managing the
day-to-day schedule of the President. The OPCS shall determine and
recommend to the President the activities which shall be personally
attended by the President. Relatedly, it shall coordinate with all
concerned offices and agencies and ensure adequate preparation, both
substantive and administrative, in the conduct of Presidential
activities; 

1.2 Providing the President with strategic planning
functions; 

1.3 Providing coordination of the policy formulation
process at the President’s level; 

1.4 Ensuring the monitoring
and evaluation of programs and projects being undertaken by the
Government; and 

1.5 Ensuring greater participation of the
citizenry in the government’s reform agenda by enhancing the President’s
public communications systems.

SECTION 2.
Organizational Set-up and staff Complement. — The OPCS shall be
under the direct supervision of the President. It shall be headed by the
Presidential Chief of Staff, who shall have the rank and emoluments of a
Cabinet Secretary, and shall be assisted by one (1) Senior Deputy Chief
of Staff and two (2) Deputy Chiefs of Staff, all with the rank of
Undersecretary, three (3) Assistant Secretaries, and such number of
Directorial and other Administrative staff as may be deemed necessary by
the Presidential Chief of Staff, upon the approval of the President. 

SECTION 3. Coordinating Mechanism in the Office of the President. —
(a) The OPCS shall coordinate the operations of the following offices,
without diminution of their respective powers and functions: (a) the
Appointments Office; (b) the Office of the Presidential Assistant for
Socials; (c) the Office of Protocol Affairs; (d) the Correspondence
Office; and the (e) Internal House Affairs Office.

(b) The
OPCS shall have supervision over the President’s National Security
Briefing Room, which shall be responsible for providing regular
situationer reports to the President on real time basis.

(c)
The OPCS shall coordinate, for the specific purpose of formulating and
implementing the President’s public communications programs, the
following offices: (a) the Office of the Press Secretary; and (b) the
Office of the Presidential Spokesperson.

(d) The OPCS shall
coordinate closely with the Presidential Management Staff as the primary
government agency directly responsible for providing substantive staff
assistance in the Presidential exercise of overall management of the
development process.

(e) To ensure close coordination, the
outputs of the Presidential Advisers and Assistants shall be submitted
to the President through the Executive Secretary, copy furnished the
OPCS. 

SECTION 4. Assistance. — The OPCS may call upon
any agency of the Government for such assistance as may be necessary in
the performance of its functions. All heads of departments, agencies,
bureaus, offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations
are hereby enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to the
Presidential Chief of Staff and provide such information and data as may
required to carry out his functions. 

SECTION 5. Funding
Support. — The funds to support the operations of the OPCS shall be
sourced from the existing budget of the Office of the President. Fund
requirements of the OPCS for the succeeding years shall be included in
the budget of the Office of the President. 

SECTION 6.
Repealing Clause. — All issuances, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Administrative Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 

SECTION
7. Effectivity. — This Administrative Order shall take effect
immediately. 

Adopted: 12 Feb. 2003

By the President: 

(SGD.)
ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary