Reconstituting the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Abolishing the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, and for Other Purposes

April 27, 2020

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 111

RECONSTITUTING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON, ABOLISHING THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING OFFICE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Administration to protect, promote and abide by the highest standards of free expression and respect for press freedom, as well as to nurture a well-informed and enlightened citizenry;

WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the Office of the President (OP) to provide true, correct and accurate information to the public, and to utilize and consolidate its information resources to ensure effective and efficient information dissemination;

WHEREAS, it is imperative to improve the awareness of the public of the activities, actions, pronouncements and policies of the President and his Administration;

WHEREAS, Memorandum Order (MO) No. 32 (s. 1986) created the Office of the Press Secretary, headed by a Press Secretary who acted as the official spokesperson of the President;

WHEREAS, by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 4 (s. 2010) and other issuances, the Office of the Press Secretary was reorganized, and the task of informing and communicating to the people the policies, programs, official activities and achievements of the OP and the Executive Department, as well as the development and implementation of communication strategies, were shared between the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and its attached agencies, the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), and the Presidential Spokesperson;

WHEREAS, there is a need to update and harmonize the functions of the said communications offices under the OP to ensure the efficient and effective performance of their common mandate, and to streamline the release of relevant information to the public; and

WHEREAS, under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of EO No. 292 (s. 1987) or the Administrative Code of 1987, the President has the continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the OP;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Office of the Presidential Spokesperson. — The Office of the Presidential Spokesperson (OPS) is hereby reconstituted under the OP. It shall be headed by a Presidential Spokesperson, who shall have the rank and emoluments of a Cabinet Secretary.

The Presidential Spokesperson may be assisted by a deputy spokesperson and an assistant spokesperson, who shall serve in a coterminous capacity. The OPS shall review and modify, as may be necessary, its existing organizational structure and staffing pattern to effectively and efficiently carry out the functions prescribed herein. The new organizational structure and staffing pattern shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), except for positions which are beyond the authority of DBM to approve, or unless the President opts to exercise such approving authority directly.

SECTION 2. Powers and Functions. — The OPS shall perform the following functions:

a. Discharge the function of speaking for the President on matters pertaining to his actions, policies, programs, official activities and accomplishments;

b. Coordinate and cultivate relations with private mass media entities;

c. Provide news and information to the public by utilizing relevant mass media and other emerging platforms;

d. Develop and implement necessary guidelines and mechanisms pertaining to the dissemination of information on the policies, programs, official activities and achievements of the President;

e. Provide a mechanism to address special concerns of the OP for better communication with the Filipino people as well as with foreign media;

f. Submit periodic reports to the President, through the Executive Secretary, on the status of programs and projects undertaken; and

g. Perform such other functions as the President may direct.

The OPS and PCOO shall coordinate on all activities when the nature thereof is directly relevant to the functions of both.

SECTION 3. Streamlining of Functions and Organization. — Pursuant to the rationalization and streamlining efforts to achieve simplicity, economy and efficiency in government, the PCDSPO is hereby abolished.

All agencies, bureaus and offices previously attached to the PCDSPO under EO No. 4 are retained and shall remain under the offices having actual supervision and jurisdiction over them as of the date of the effectivity of this Order, provided that such existing arrangements may be modified, in consultation with the concerned agencies, through an executive issuance from the OP.

SECTION 4. Funding. — Subject to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations, funds for the initial operation of the OPS shall be sourced from the available funds of the OP. Appropriations for succeeding years shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposal of the OP.

SECTION 5. Repeal. — EO No. 4 is hereby amended to the extent that the same is inconsistent with this Order. All other orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Separability. — If any section or provision of this Order is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the portions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

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

DONE in the City of Manila, this 27th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty.