Rationalizing the Public Information Functions and Duties of the Executive Branch

March 6, 2006

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 511

RATIONALIZING THE PUBLIC INFORMATION FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

WHEREAS, the work of informing and communicating to the public the policies, programs, achievements and activities of the Executive Branch involves the offices and agencies which have these tasks such as the Office of the Press Secretary, the Office of the Communications Director, the Philippine Information Agency and the government mass media; HAaDTE

WHEREAS, the line departments, bureaus, offices and agencies, including government financial institutions and government-owned and/or controlled corporations, undertake similar work in the course of undertaking their main functions;

WHEREAS, there is a need for a body to guide, integrate and supervise the operation of these entities, with respect to their public information activities;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 348 (2. 2004) created the Office of the Communications Director;

WHEREAS, under existing laws and jurisprudence, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the Executive Department of the Government.

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

SECTION 1. Creation and Mandate. — There is hereby created a Communications Group in the Office of the President which shall guide, integrate and supervise all public information dissemination activities of the Executive Branch of Government.

SECTION 2. Composition. — The Communications Group shall be headed by the Press Secretary and shall have as members the Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency and the Chairman of the government mass media organizations, both of whom shall have the rank and emoluments of Cabinet Secretary.

SECTION 3. Function. — (1) The Communication Group shall guide, integrate and supervise the public information activities, including advertisements, of all departments, bureaus, offices and agencies in the Executive Branch of the Government, including government financial institutions (GFIs) and government-owned and/or controlled corporations (GOCCs), in close consultation with the head of these entities.

(2) The Communications Group shall ensure the rationalization of the organizations directly under it, mainly the Office of the Press Secretary, the Philippine Information Agency and the government mass media organizations.

(3) The Communications Group shall meet regularly to ensure full discussion of the government's mass media initiatives and shall report to the President problems that require the Chief Executive's action or decision.

SECTION 4. Assistance. — The Communications Group may call upon any office in the Executive Branch of the Government, including GFIs and GOCCs, for such assistance as may be necessary in the performance of its functions.

SECTION 5. Funding. — Funding for the operations of the Communications Group shall be sourced from the Office of the Press Secretary, the Philippine Information Agency, the government mass media organizations, GFIs and GOCCs, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations. cHSIAC

SECTION 6. Transfer to the Office of the Press Secretary/Supervision of the Philippine News Agency. — All functions, units, properties, staff and other resources of the Office of the Communications Director are hereby transferred to the Office the Press Secretary. The Chairman of the government mass media organizations shall supervise the Philippine News Agency.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — Executive Order No. 348, is hereby revoked. All other orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 6th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.