RECONSTITUTING THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AS A NEW AGENCY UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT A…

WHEREAS, it is necessary to link directly the functions of
the Bureau of the Census and Statistics with the requirements of
national social and economic development planning;

WHEREAS, the National Economic and Development Authority,
being the highest development planning body, is the logical focal point
for securing the desired linkage that will give more development
orientation in the operations of the Bureau of the Census and Statistics
and make it serve move efficiently the requirements of development
planning; and

WHEREAS, to attain this objective, the organizational status
and form of the Bureau of the Census and Statistics should be redefined
and reconstituted under the administrative supervision of the National
Economic and Development Authority;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
do hereby order and decree:

SECTION 1. The Bureau of the Census and Statistics of the
Department of Trade is hereby reconstituted as a new agency to be known
as the National Census and Statistics Office. The Office shall be
transferred from the Department of Trade and placed under the
administrative supervision of the National Economic and Development
Authority.

SEC. 2. The Office shall be headed by an Executive Director
and shall have the same organizational structure and functions
prescribed for the Bureau of the Census and Statistics under the
Integrated Reorganization Plan, as amended: Provided, however,
That the Director-General of the National Economic and Development
Authority may make modifications thereon as may be necessary: Provided,
further, That except for the Executive Director and Assistant
Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President, upon
recommendation of the Director-General of the National Economic and
Development Authority, all other personnel of the Office shall be
appointed by the Executive Director and shall be under his control and
supervision: Provided, furthermore. That the staffing pattern for
high-level professional and technical personnel of the Office which
shall be prepared for purposes of implementing the reorganization
prescribed for the Bureau of the Census and Statistics under the Plan
shall be reviewed and recommended for approval by the Director-General
of the National Economic and Development Authority: Provided, finally,
That the regular professional and technical personnel of the Office
shall be exempt from the coverage of the classification and compensation
plans of the Wage and Position Classification Office, and Civil Service
rules and regulations.

SEC. 3. The present personnel complement of the Bureau of
the Census and Statistics, together with its applicable appropriations,
records, equipment and property shall be transferred to the Office
herein created.

SEC. 4. The National Economic and Development Authority
shall: (a) provide general policies and priorities which shall serve as
the general framework for the statistical operations of the Office; (b)
review and recommend for approval statistical programs and budgets for
such programs, as recommended by the Office.

SEC. 5. The Office shall assist the Statistical Advisory
Board and the National Economic and Development Authority in the
formulation of a continuing comprehensive statistical program for the
Government and shall provide technical assistance and support to
projects of other statistical agencies and institutions particularly
those concerned with the improvement of economic statistics.

SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect and shall be
implemented immediately.

SEC. 7. All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

Done in the City of Manila, this 20th day of March, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.