THE OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY

The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) is the agency of the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines, which is responsible for planning, programming, and coordinating the activities that
will most effectively collect information about what is happening in the Executive branch of the
government and getting that information to the Mass media|media. In addition, the Office's
greater role is to help Filipinos understand government policies and programs as well as shore up
support for such.

The Office of the Press Secretary is headed by the Press Secretary, who is also the official
spokesperson for Malacañang (Executive Office of the President). He is also responsible for
conducting daily briefings to media as well as organizing press conferences. The current Press
Secretary is Ignacio Bunye and holds office at the Kalayaan Hall (Old Executive Office
Building).
 DEPARMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM

The Department of Agrarian Reform (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Repormang Pansakahan),

abbreviated as the DAR, is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible
for all land reform programs in the country, with the aim of promoting social justice and
industrialization.

History

Land reform in the Philippines had its beginnings in 1963, when Section 49 of Republic Act
(RA) 3844, or the Agricultural Land Reform Code, necessitated the creation of the Land
Authority. This agency was tasked to implement the policies set forth in RA 3844 and was
created on August 8, 1963. Republic Act 3844 reorganized existing agencies involved in tasks
related to land reform and realigned their functions towards attaining the common objectives of
the land reform program.

On September 10, 1971, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed RA 6389, otherwise known as
the Code of Agrarian Reform of the Philippines, into law. Section 49 of this act mandated the
establishment of a new self-contained department, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and this
effectively replaced the Land Authority. In 1978, under the parliamentary form of government,
the DAR was renamed the Ministry of Agrarian Reform. On July 26, 1987, the department was
organized structurally and functionally through Executive Order (EO) No. 129-A.

In 1988, Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law
(CARL) was signed into law and became the legal basis for the implementation of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). It is an act instituting a CARP with the aim
of promoting social justice and industrialization. RA 6657 also provided the mechanism for its
implementation. It was signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on June 10.

On September 27, 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, signed Executive Order No. 364,
and the Department of Agrarian Reform was renamed to Department of Land Reform. This EO
also broadened the scope of the department, making it responsible for all land reform in the
country. It also placed the Philippine Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) under its supervision
and control. Recognition of the ownership of ancestral domain by indigenous peoples also
became the responsibility of this new department, under the National Commission on Indigenous
Peoples (NCIP).<ref>Executiver Order No. 364</ref>

On August 23, 2005, President Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 456 and renamed the
Department of Land Reform back to Department of Agrarian Reform, since "the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Law goes beyond just land reform but includes the totality of all factors and
support services designed to lift the economic status of the beneficiaries.
 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The Department of Agriculture of the Republic of the Philippines is the department of the
executive branch of the Philippine government which is tasked with overseeing the agriculture
sector and implementing projects for its improvement and benefit.

History

Along with other offices and agencies, the Department of Agriculture and Manufacturing during
the First Philippine Republic was established through a Presidential Proclamation by President
Emilio Aguinaldo on 23 June 1898. Jose Alejandrino served as the department's first director.

In 1901, the Insular Bureau of Agriculture under the American colonial government was
established in accordance with Act 271. Following the policy of diversification that was adopted
under the American Sovereignty, efforts were given to developing agricultural crops, and to
improving the fishing, forestry, and mining facilities in the country.

The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) took over the responsibilities of
the Bureaus of Agriculture when Act No. 2666 was enacted.

During Rafael Alunan Sr.'s term, the DANR underwent a number of changes in its name and
organization. The department was renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
The different bureaus under the department also saw significant changes in their divisions and
responsibilities under the different secretaries who headed the department until President
Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed Martial Law.
In 1964, Marcos approved Presidential Decree No. 461 dividing the DANR into two
departments: the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture.

Goals and Responsibilities

The Department of Agriculture aims to increase the farmers' income and to reduce poverty in the
Philippines by harnessing the country's agricultural potential towards economic growth. Through
its Medium Term Philippine Development Plan, it plans to develop over two million hectares of
land to use for agribusiness purposes and to reduce the necessary costs required to enchance
productivity, to make the logistical processes of the agriculture industry more efficient, and to
effectively distribute the resulting agribusiness commodities.

The department also implements a number of Administrative Orders and Memos regarding the
utilization and the development of the Philippine's agricultural sector.
 DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT

The Philippines' Department of Budget and Management (DBM) (Filipino: Kagawaran ng

Pagbabadyet at Pamamahala) is the executive department of the Philippine Government tasked
to promote the sound, efficient and effective management and utilization of government
resources as instrument to achieve national socioeconomic and political development goals. The
DBM is currently headed by Secretary Florencio Abad, Jr.

General functions

 Formulate the resource application strategy to match the government’s macro-economic

policy
 Prepare the medium-term expenditure plan
 Undertake the formulation of the annual national budget
 Develop and administer a national accounting system for fiscal management and control
 Conduct a continuing study, assess and make policy recommendation of the bureaucracy
 Establish the rules and procedures for the management of government organization
resources
 Conceptualize and administer the government’s compensation and position classification
plan
 Monitor and assess the physical as well as the financial operations of local government
units and government-owned and/or – controlled corporations
History

In accordance with the Philippine Bill of 1902, the Second Philippine Commission, which acted
as a legislative body, enacted appropriations measures for the annual expenditures of the
government. Two years after the passage of Jones Law in 1916, which instructed the Governor-
General to submit the annual budget, the Council of State was formed to prepare the annual
budget.

A Budget Office, composed of four divisions: Budget Division; Expense-Central Division;

Service Inspection Division; Administrative Division, was formed to assist in the preparation,
enactment and implementation of appropriations made by law.

The Constitution of 1935 established budget policies and procedures.

Executive Order No. 25 issued on 25 April 1936 established the Budget Commission. By virtue
of Presidential Decree No. 1405 signed on 11 June 1978, it became a Ministry. Since it followed
the pattern in the United States Federal Government, the Ministry of Budget was separate from
other fiscal agencies of government like the Ministry/Department of Finance.

Commonwealth Act No. 246 or the first Budget Law was passed on 17 December 1937. It took
effect on the first day of the following year and provided for a line-item budget as the framework
of the government's budgeting system.

On 4 June 1954, Republic Act No. 992 or the Revised Budget Act was enacted to provide for the
enhanced role of the Budget Commission as the fiscal arm and budgeting adviser of the
President.

The Integrated Reorganization Plan of 1972 under Presidential Decree No. 1 reorganized
changes in the Budget Commission and retained four units namely the Budget Operations Office;
National Accounting Office; Management Office; and Wage and Position Classification Office
(WAPCO).

Presidential Decree 1177 or the Budget Reform Decree of 1977 further strengthened the
planning, programming and budgeting linkages.
Under Proclamation No. 3 of President Corazon C. Aquino, budgetary functions were exercised
by the Office of Budget and Management.

Executive Order No. 292 provided for major organizational subdivisions of the Department of
Budget and Management.

From 1986 to 1991, the DBM rationalized funding for resource-demanding area, created
measures to better control the widening of the budget deficit, and improved budget
administration, systems and processes.

Under President Fidel V. Ramos, tried to make the National Budget an instrument for breaking
the boom-and-bust cycle that had characterized the Philippine economy in the past. The budget
then became an economic stimulus and a means to disperse the gains of economic development.

At the outset of Joseph Estrada's presidency, the Asian Financial Crisis took a second look at the
country's economic policies and strategies. From mid 1998 to end of 2000, the DBM introduced
budgeting reforms to improve cash management, reduce uncertainty in allotment and cash flow,
and enhance transparency and accountability.

The General Appropriations Act (GAA) was made as the final spending authority so agency
heads could immediately plan and contract out projects without waiting for the issuance of an
allotment authority.

The DBM initiated a performance?based approach to budgeting aimed at rationalizing

accountability of public officers and employees over government resources and promote client-
orientation. It required agencies to specify strategic outcomes consistent with the Medium-Term
Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), develop appropriate performance indicators, and
prioritize major final outputs as bases for allocation of funds. It was also during this period that
DBM was able to operationalize a central e-commerce facility on government procurement
system.

Under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DBM focused on fiscal responsibility, efficiency of

public expenditures, and good governance. It also strengthened intergovernmental relations,
elicited increased participation from the private sector in the budget process and intensied public
information on the administration's fiscal policy, thrusts, and budget policies and procedures.
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Department of Education (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Edukasyon), more popularly known as

DepEd, formerly the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (Filipino: Kagawaran ng
Edukasyon, Kultura at Palakasan) or DECS, is the executive department of the Philippine
government which is primarily charged with the management and upkeep of the Philippine
educational system. One of three government bodies overseeing and supervising education in the
Philippines, the DepEd is the chief formulator of Philippine educational policy and is responsible
for the Philippine primary and secondary school system, while CHED is responsible for tertiary
and graduate education and TESDA is responsible for technical-vocational and middle level
education.

History

In pre-Hispanic times, education in the Philippines was informal and unstructured, without any
fixed methodology. Children were usually taught by their parents and tribal tutors and such
education was geared more towards skills development. This underwent a major change when
Spain colonized the islands. Tribal tutors were replaced by Spanish missionaries, and education
became oriented more towards academics and the Catholic religion. It was also primarily for the
elite, especially in the early years of the colony. Later, however, the Educational Decree of 1863
was enacted, providing for the establishment of at least one primary school for boys and girls in
each town under the responsibility of the municipal government; and the establishment of a
normal school for male teachers under the supervision of the Jesuits. Primary instruction was
free and the teaching of Spanish was compulsory. More significantly, this decree also established
the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction, a forerunner of the present Department of
Education.

Under Aguinaldo’s Revolutionary Government, the Spanish schools were initially closed, but
were reopened on August 29, 1898 by the Secretary of the Interior. A system of free and
compulsory elementary education was established by the Malolos Constitution. The Burgos
Institute in Malolos, the Military Academy of Malolos, and the Literary University of the
Philippines were also established.

During the American occupation, an adequate secularized and free public school system was
established upon the recommendation of the Schurman Commission. Per instructions of
President William McKinley, the Taft Commission enforced free primary instruction that trained
the people for the duties of citizenship, and assigned chaplains and non-commissioned officers to
teach, using English as the medium of instruction.

The Philippine Commission instituted a highly centralized public school system in 1901, by
virtue of Act No. 74, which also established the Department of Public Instruction, headed by a
General Superintendent. However, the implementation of this Act caused a heavy shortage of
teachers, leading the Philippine Commission to authorize the Superintendent of Public
Instruction to bring 600 teachers from the United States to the Philippines. These teachers would
later be popularly known as the Thomasites. Later, the Organic Act of 1916 reorganized the
Department of Public Instruction, mandating that it be headed by a Secretary, and that all
department secretaries should be Filipinos, except for the Secretary of Public Instruction.

During World War II, the department was reorganized once again through the Japanese Military
Order No. 2 in 1942, which established the Commission of Education, Health, and Public
Welfare. With the establishment of the Japanese-sponsored Republic, the Ministry of Education
was created on October 14, 1943. Under the Japanese, the teaching of Tagalog, Philippine
History, and Character Education was given priority. Love for work and the dignity of labor
were also emphasized.
In 1947, after the Philippine Commonwealth had been restored, the Department of Instruction
was changed to Department of Education by virtue of Executive Order No. 94. During this
period, the regulation and supervision of public and private schools belonged to the Bureau of
Public and Private Schools. In 1972, the Department of Education became the Department of
Education and Culture by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1, and subsequently became the
Ministry of Education and Culture in 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1397. Thirteen
regional offices were created and major organizational changes were implemented in the
educational system.

The Education Act of 1982 created the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, which later
became the Department of Education, Culture and Sports in 1987 by virtue of Executive Order
No. 117 of President Corazon C. Aquino. The structure of DECS as embodied in EO No. 117
practically remained unchanged until 1994, when the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
was established to supervise tertiary degree programs , and 1995, when the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was established to supervise non-degree technical-
vocational programs.

The trifocal education system refocused DECS’ mandate to basic education which covers
elementary, secondary and nonformal education, including culture and sports. TESDA now
administers the post-secondary, middle-level manpower training and development, while CHED
is responsible for higher education.

In August 2001, Republic Act No. 9155, otherwise called the "Governance of Basic Education
Act", was passed renaming the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to the
Department of Education (DepEd) and redefining the role of field offices, which include regional
offices, division offices, district offices, and schools.
 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

The Philippines' Department of Energy (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Enerhiya), abbreviated as DOE

is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for preparing, integrating,
coordinating, supervising and controlling all plans, programs, projects and activities of the
Government relative to energy exploration, development, utilization, distribution and
conservation.

History

The Department of Energy was created by then President Marcos as he issued Presidential
Decree No. 1206 which created the Ministry of Energy and attached the National Power
Corporation and Philippine National Oil Company to this new agency. The Ministry was
abolished under the administration of President Corazon Aquino. Under the administration of
President Fidel V. Ramos, that Department was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 7638
otherwise known as the Department of Energy Act of 1992.
 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the main department of the
Philippine government responsible for supervising and managing the different programs and
implementing rules governing the use and development of the country's natural resources.

History

The DENR traces its roots to the Inspeccion General de Montes, an office established in the
country by a Spanish Royal Decree. The organization's main function involved forest
administration, mineral resources conservation and land protection.

The Department of Interior, which took over matters of natural resources, was established in
1901. When Act No. 2666 was enacted on 18 November 1916, it was abolished and all its
responsibilities were reassigned to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
(DANR).

In 1932, DANR was renamed as the Department of Agriculture and Commerce (DAC). The
reorganization act that made way for this renaming also provided for additional bureaus under
the department. Other organizational changes continued to take place until the end of WWII.

On 1 July 1945, the DANR was re-instituted through provisions of the first Philippine Republic.
When Presidential Decree No. 461 was issued in 1974, the department was split up into two
departments: the Department of Natural Resource (DNR) and the Department of Agriculture
(DA).

The Department of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (DENNR) took the powers and
responsibilities of DNR and DA through Executive Order No. 131. Finally, on 10 June 1987, the
DENNR was renamed as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
through Executive Order No. 192.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority was absorbed by the DENR in 1993. This gave the
DENR control over almost every issue concerning the use, development and utilization of natural
resources.

The Presidential Task Force on Water Resources Development and Management (PTFWRDM),
tasked to supervise projects involving management of the Philippine's water resources, was
created under Executive Order No. 374. Through this, the DENR assumed responsibility of all
projects involving both the land and water resources in the country.

Core Functions

The DENR's three main functions and responsibilities are the following:

 Formulation and Implementation of rules and policies that involve the management of the
environment, and the prevention and control of pollution
 Supervision of policies and programs that concerns the conservation, use, and
replenishment of the country's natural resource
 Establishment of rules concerning the Philippine forests, lands, mineral source, and
wildlife.
 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

The Philippines' Department of Finance (DOF) (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Pananalapi) is the

executive department of the Philippine Government that formulates revenue policies that will
ensure funding of critical government programs to promote welfare among people and accelerate
economic growth and stability. The DOF is currently headed by Secretary Cesar V. Purisima.

History

The DOF was founded on 24 April 1897 by the Philippine Revolutionary Government, predating
the establishment of the Philippine Republic.

Over the years, the DOF has gone through many structural and functional overhauls. Today, the
tasks of revenue generation, resource mobilization, and fiscal management rest upon the DOF,
keeping in mind the government's duty to provide the citizenry with infrastructure, education,
health and other basic services.

Functions

The DOF is tasked to:

 Formulate goals, action plans, and strategies for the government's resource mobilization
effort
 Formulate, institutionalize, and administer fiscal and tax policies
 Supervise, direct, and control the collection of government revenues
 Act as custodian of and manage all financial resources of the government
 Manage public debt
 Review and coordinate policies, plans, and programs of corporations owned and
controlled by the government
 Monitor and support the implementation of policies and measures on local revenue
administration
 Coordinate with other government agencies on matters concerning fiscal, monetary,
trade, and other economic policies
 Investigate and arrest illegal activities which may affect national economic interest
 DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Ugnayang

Panlabas) is the executive department of the Philippine government tasked to contribute to the
enhancement of national security and the protection of the territorial integrity and national
sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the
Philippines' competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas
and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the
Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually
beneficial relations with other countries.

History

Beginnings

The Department of Foreign Affairs was created on 23 June 1898 through a decree by Emilio
Aguinaldo, who appointed Apolinario Mabini as the Philippines’s first Secretary of Foreign
Affairs. In effect, the DFA became the first government department to be established following
the proclamation of the First Philippine Republic in Malolos City in Bulacan.

Realizing the need for international recognition to support the legitimacy of his government,
Aguinaldo assigned Mabini the difficult task of establishing diplomatic relations with friendly
countries. Members of the Hong Kong Junta, a group of Filipino exiles in Hong Kong, served as
the country’s envoys for this purpose.
Post-War Philippines

During the period when the Philippines was a colony of the United States, the government did
not take an active role in the crafting and execution of its foreign policy. This was also the case
during Japan's occupation of the Philippines from 1942 to 1944. The country regained full
control of foreign affairs and diplomatic matters on 04 July 1946, when Commonwealth Act No.
732 was passed, creating the Department of Foreign Affairs. On 16 September, President Manuel
Roxas issued Executive Order No. 18, which provided for the organization and operation of the
DFA and the Foreign Service. The main tasks of the DFA then were to assist in postwar
rehabilitation, formulate policies for the promotion of investment, and re-establish diplomatic
relations with neighboring countries.

The DFA also proposed amendments to the Bell Trade Act, the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty,
and the Laurel-Langley Agreement with the United States, which helped strengthened trade and
military relations with the US, and at the same time initiated the Philippines into the arena of
independent foreign policy.

The DFA had its heyday during the post-war years, with its increased participation in the
international arena. At that time, the international environment was beginning to change,
requiring that new thrusts and priorities in Philippine foreign policy be determined. During the
Cold War, against the backdrop of the Korean War in 1950 and the rising communism in China,
the Philippines projected an increasing internationalist foreign policy. The Philippines helped
forge the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or GATT in 1949. The country also became a
founding member of the United Nations and one of the drafters of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, and was among the early proponents of disarmament and non-interference in the
internal affairs of free peoples. The Philippines' greater participation in global matters
culminated in Carlos P. Romulo’s election as the first Asian President of the UN General
Assembly in 1952.

Realizing the importance of foreign relations, President Elpidio Quirino pushed for the passage
of the Foreign Service Law in June 1952, as embodied in Republic Act (RA) No. 708. During the
post-war period, the Department of Foreign Affairs focused on institution-building, while
simultaneously increasing Philippine global exposure. In 1953, Secretary Raul S. Manglapus
instituted the Foreign Service Officers examination to professionalize the Foreign Service and
improve the recruitment and selection of new FSOs.

The Marcos Years

President Ferdinand Marcos redefined foreign policy as "the protection of Philippine

independence, territorial integrity and national dignity", and emphasized increased regional
cooperation and collaboration. He placed great stress on being Asian and pursued a policy of
constructive unity and co-existence with other Asian states, regardless of ideological differences.

In 1967, the Philippines launched a new initiative to form a regional association with other
Southeast Asian countries called the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. It was
also during this period that the Philippines established its economic and diplomatic ties with
socialist countries such as China and the USSR, which Marcos visited in 1975 and 1976,
respectively. The Philippines also opened embassies in the eastern bloc countries, and a separate
mission to the European Common Market in Brussels.

Throughout the 1970s, the DFA pursued the promotion of trade and investment, played an active
role in hosting international meetings, and participated in the meetings of the Non-Aligned
Movement. Meanwhile, the Foreign Service Institute was created in 1976 to provide in-house
training to Foreign Service personnel.

Post-EDSA 1986

The 1986 EDSA Revolution saw the re-establishment of a democratic government under
President Corazon Aquino. During this period, the DFA once again pursued development policy,
in the active pursuit abroad for opportunities in the vital areas of trade, investment, finance,
technology and aid. The DFA also revived its efforts to boost the Philippines' role in the Asia-
Pacific region.

During this period, the Philippines became one of the founding members of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation or APEC in November 1989. The country also became an active player
in regional efforts to establish the ASEAN Free Trade Area. In 1990, the DFA proposed the
establishment of more diplomatic missions to the Middle East to improve its existing ties with
Arab states and to respond to the growing needs of Overseas Filipino Workers in the region.

In 1991, the senate, heeding the growing nationalist sentiments among the public, voted against
the extension of the Military Bases Agreement. This symbolized the severance of the political
and ideological ties which had long linked the country to the United States. Also in 1991,
President Aquino signed into law R.A. 7157, otherwise known as the New Foreign Service Law,
which reorganized and strengthened the Foreign Service. It instituted a Career Minister
Eligibility Examination as a requirement for promotion of FSOs to the rank of Minister
Counselor, thereby ensuring the professional selection of those who would eventually rise to the
level of career ambassadors.

Under Fidel V. Ramos

The Ramos administration from July 1992 to June 1998 defined four core areas of Philippine
foreign policy: the enhancement of national security, promotion of economic diplomacy,
protection of Overseas Filipino Workers and Filipino nationals abroad, and the projection of a
good international image of the country.

The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 provided the framework for stronger
protection of Filipino workers abroad, with the creation of the Legal Assistance Fund and the
Assistance to Nationals Fund, as well as the designation in the DFA of a Legal Assistant for
Migrant Workers’ Affairs, with the rank of Undersecretary.

Among the other significant events in foreign affairs during the Ramos years was the Philippine-
initiated 1992 ASEAN adoption of the Declaration on the South China Sea, aimed at confidence-
building and avoidance of conflict among claimant states. There was also the establishment of
the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (BIMP)-East Asia Growth area in 1994; the
establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994 as the only multilateral security
dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region conducted at the government level; and the signing of the
Mindanao Peace Agreement between the Philippine Government and the MNLF on 02
September 1996.
The Estrada Administration

The Estrada administration upheld the foreign policy thrusts of the previous administration,
focusing on national security, economic diplomacy, assistance to nationals, and image-building.
The Philippines continued to be at the forefront of the regional and multilateral arena. It
successfully hosted the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in July 1998 and undertook confidence-
building measures with China over the South China Sea issue through a meeting held in March
1999. President Estrada strengthened bilateral ties with neighboring countries, with visits to
Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.

The DFA also played a major role in the forging of a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United
States, which was ratified in the Senate. The country also sent a delegation of 108 observers to
the Indonesian parliamentary elections and engaged in cooperative activities in the areas of
security, defense, economy, culture, combating transnational crimes, and protecting OFWs and
Filipinos abroad.

Under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

At the beginning of her term in 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, pursued foreign
policy based on nine facts:

First, the dynamics of relations between China, Japan and the United States determine the
security situation and economic evolution of East Asia.

Second, Philippine foreign policy decisions are increasingly being made in the context of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Third, Europe will continue to play a significant role in promoting international prosperity and
stability.

Fourth, the international Islamic community remains crucial to the country's search for lasting
and permanent peace in Mindanao.

Fifth, inter-regional organizations will become increasingly influential in the global context.
Sixth, the protection of the environment, natural resources and maritime territory.

Seventh, the drive for foreign markets and foreign direct investments will form a focal concern
of economic diplomacy efforts.

Eighth, international tourism will be a major driver of national growth.

Ninth, overseas Filipinos play a critical role in the country's economic and social stability.

Functions and Responsibilities

The objectives of the Department of Foreign Affairs are as follows:

 To aid in the enhancement of national security and the protection of the territorial
integrity and national sovereignty
 To participate in sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines' competitive edge
in a global milieu
 To protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them
as partners in national development
 To present a good image of the Philippines;
 To further enhance the international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-
beneficial relations with other countries
 To increase and maximize human, financial, technological and other resources in order to
optimize the performance of the Department
 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The Department of Health (DOH), or Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, is the administrative department

of the Philippine government charged with overseeing the health of the public. The department is
obligated to make sure that health services are made available and accessible to all Philippine
citizens. Their task is to improve health care quality, and to ensure that health care facilities are
up to standard.

History

Under the American government, a Board of Health was established on 29 September 1898,
headed by one Frank S. Bourns. The board was put up for American soldiers who were injured in
battling Filipino troops. As peace agreements were under way, however, the Board of Health was
turned into a civilian agency. It was then headed by L.M. Maus, who became the country's first
health commissioner.

During the first years of the 20th century, an epidemic was sweeping across the nation. It
claimed 200,222 lives, pushing the Americans to put up more health institutions. In 1901, they
established the Bureau of Governmental Laboratories, for the purpose of conducting research
and producing vaccines.

In 1905, Dean Worcester headed the founding of the UP College of Medicine and Surgery which
was patterned after the prestigious Johns Hopkins University. Just four years later, in 1909, the
Philippine Normal School introduced nursing courses to its curriculum. The Americans also
installed an improved sewage system so that the citizens had access to cleaner water.

The Bureau of Health was transformed into the Philippine Health Service in 1915. With the
enactment of the Organic Act of 1916, more and more health facilities were placed under the
responsibility of Filipino medical practitioners. The first Filipino to head all health concerns of
the nation was Dr. Vicente De Jesus, who was appointed on 1 January 1919.

The Philippine Health Service was again renamed as the Bureau of Health in 1933. The bureau
began its journal The Health Messenger, and started erecting health centers in different
communities. These communal health care facilities would be succeeded by the Barangay Health
Centers today.

In 1936, Governor-General Frank Murphy proclaimed that the Philippines bested all other
Eastern countries when it came to the quality of health care.

When the Philippine Commonwealth was installed, Jose Fabella became head of the Bureau of
Health. Fabella made an official account of all the health care facilities in the country at that time
(1936), and found that there were already 11 community health centers, 38 hospitals, 215
puericulture centers, 374 sanitary facilities, 1,535 dispensaries, and 72 laboratories.

The Bureau of Health became the Department of Health and Public Welfare in the 1940s.
Tuberculosis, malnutrition, malaria, leprosy, gastrointestinal disease, and high mortality rate
amongst children were the major health issues the department was dealing with at the time.

During the Japanese occupation, Claro M. Recto was designated to take over public health
concerns when he became the commissioner of the Department of Education, Health and Public
Welfare.

When Manuel Roxas became president, [When? --Editor] he released Executive Order No. 94
which called for the establishment of the Department of Health. In 1948, under health secretary
Antonio Villarama, three subsidiaries of the DOH were created: the Bureau of Hospitals, the
Bureau of Quarantine, and the Institute of Nutrition.
The Department of Health was decentralized in 1958 under Executive Order 288. Upon the
establishment of eight new Regional Health Offices, regional directors took over some of the
secretary of health's responsibilities.

Public health also became highly prioritized during President Ferdinand Marcos's regime.
Between 1975 and 1985, four hospitals were established, each with a different field of
specialization. These hospitals were the Philippine Heart Center (established on 14 February 14),
the Philippine Children's Medical Center (established in 1979), the National Kidney and
Transplant Institute, and the Lung Center of the Philippines.

The Department of Health then became the Ministry of Health on 2 June 1978, which was first
headed by Clemente Gatmaitan. When a new Department of Health was again established in
place of the Ministry of Health on 13 April 1987, Alfredo R. A. Bengzon became the health
secretary.
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) (Kagawaran ng Interyor at

Pamahalaang Lokal) is the Philippine government's executive branch mandated to promote
peace and order, ensure public safety, and strengthen capability of local government units
through active people participation and a professionalized corps of civil servants. The DILG also
supervises the Philippine National Police. At present, Mel Senen Sarmiento, former Secretary
General of the Liberal Party is the secretary.

History

The beginnings of the DILG are rooted in the Philippine Revolution of 1897, with the
establishment of the first Department of Interior at the Tejeros Convention on 22 March, 1897.

A revolutionary government was also set up at the time, with General Emilio Aguinaldo elected
as president and Andres Bonifacio as Director of Interior. However, Bonifacio did not assume
the post. Instead, General Pascual Alvarez was appointed by President Aguinaldo as Secretary of
the Interior on 17 April 1897 during the Naic Assembly.

The Department of Interior was enclosed in the Biak-na-Bato Constitution which was signed on
01 November 1897. Article XV of the Constitution defined the powers and functions of the
Department of Interior. These powers and functions included statistics, roads and bridges,
agriculture, public information and posts, and public order.

As the struggle for self-rule and independence went on, the Interior Department became the main
office of the government tasked with varying functions—from supervision over local units, to
forest conservation, public instructions, control and supervision over the police, counter-
insurgency, rehabilitation, community development and cooperatives development programs.

In 1950, the Department of Interior was abolished. Its functions were transferred to the Office of
Local Government (later renamed Local Government and Civil Affairs) which was under the
Office of the President.

On 06 January 1956, President Ramon Magsaysay created the Presidential Assistant on

Community Development (PACD). This body shall implement the Philippine Community
Development Program, which will coordinate and integrate on a national scale the efforts of
various governmental and civic agencies to improve the living conditions in the barrio residents
nationwide and make them self-reliant.

Presidential Decree No 1, signed in 1972, established the Department of Local Government and
Community Development (DLGCD) through Letter of Implementation No. 7 on 01 November
1972.

In 1982, the DLGCD was renamed as the Ministry of Local Government (MLG) through
Executive Order No. 777. It was further reorganized and was renamed as the Department of
Local Government (DLG) in 1997 through Executive Order No. 262.

On 13 December 1990, the DLG went through reorganization into what is now known as the
Department of Interior and Local Government. (DILG). The reorganization was pursuant to
Republic Act No. 6975. The same law created the Philippine National Police (PNP) out of the
Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP), which, together with the National
Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), was integrated under the new DILG, the Bureau of Fire
Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine Public Safety College;
and absorbed the National Action Committee on Anti-Hijacking from the Department of
National Defense (DND).
 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Katarungan) is the

principal law agency of the Philippine Government. DOJ derives its mandate from the
Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order No. 292) and serves as the government's
prosecution arm, administering its criminal justice system. It is also the country's legal counsel
and representative in litigation and proceedings that require the services of a lawyer. The DOJ is
currently under the leadership of the Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima.

History

Don Severino delas Alas, head of the Department of Grace and Justice, was tasked to establish a
regime of law. After the proclamation of independence in Kawit, Cavite on 12 June 1898,
President Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree on 26 September 1898 to reorganize the Department.

In 1899, the American military force established the Office of the Attorney of the Supreme Court
in place of the Department. It was renamed the Office of the Attorney General on 11 June 1901
and then as Department of Finance and Justice on 1 September 1901. After the government
reorganized in 1916, the Department became a separate entity. It was given executive
supervision over all courts of first instance and other inferior courts.

The Department was made a Commission under the Japanese occupation. When the Japanese
rulers established a civilian government in 1943, it was changed into a Ministry. After the 1945
World War and the Government of the Philippine Commonwealth was re-established, the
Department of Justice was re-activated. It has continued serving in this setup under the
Philippine Republic.

During Martial Law, the Presidential Decree No.1 reorganized the Executive Branch of the
national government. Letter of Implementation No. 20 of 31 December 1972 organized the
Department proper into:

 Office of the Secretary

 Financial and Management Service
 Administrative Service
 Technical Staff
 Prosecution Staff
 Legal Staff
 Judiciary Division
 Commission on Immigration and Deportation
 National Bureau of Investigation
 Office of the Government Corporate Counsel
 Board of Pardons and Parole
 Bureau of Prisons
 Citizens Legal Assistance Office

The Department became a Ministry of Justice under the 1973 Constitution. Meanwhile, the
People Power Revolution of 1986 ushered in the contemporary Department of Justice. With the
adoption of the 1987 Constitution and the Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order No.
292), the Department of Justice was named as the principal law agency of the Republic of the
Philippines, serving as its legal counsel and prosecution arm
 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is the primary government agency mandated
to promote gainful employment opportunities, develop human resources, protect workers and
promote their welfare, and maintain industrial peace.

Originally, DOLE started as a small bureau in 1908. It became a department on December 8,

1933 with the passage of Act 4121.

DOLE stands as the national government agency mandated to formulate policies, implement
programs and services, and serve as the policy-coordinating arm of the Executive Branch in the
field of labor and employment. The organization and functions of DOLE are in accordance with
the provisions of Executive Order No. 126, as amended, the Labor Code of the Philippines, and
other relevant and pertinent legislations.

DOLE has exclusive authority in the administration and enforcement of labor and employment
laws and such other laws as specifically assigned to it or to the Secretary of Labor and
Employment.

In 2009, the Department of Labor and Employment celebrated its 75th anniversary with the 7-leg
DOLE Diamond Lecture Series and JOBSolutely DOLE job fair. They followed the theme
'Balik-Tanaw, Bagong Pananaw.

Functions and Responsibilities / Key Projects and Activities

Vision, Mandate and Strategies

Consistent with the national development plan, its vision is the attainment of full, decent and
productive employment for every Filipino worker. It is mandated to promote gainful
employment opportunities, develop human resources, protect workers and promote their welfare
and maintain industrial peace. To contribute to the attainment of the national employment goals,
it adopts the following strategies:

Support for Employment Generation

While DOLE recognizes that the private sector is the primary engine of economic growth and
that other government agencies that promote development through investments and infrastructure
are the more significant employment generators, DOLE still contributes in this area by providing
bridging or transition opportunities, especially to the vulnerable sectors, to help them graduate
into more productive, remunerative, secured or more formal employment or livelihood.

Major Programs:

1. Research and Policy Advocacy for Employment Generation

2. Capacity Building for Specific Sectors
3. Promotion of Rural and Emergency Employment

The agencies that contribute to this strategy are the:

 Institute for Labor Studies (ILS),

 Bureau of Local Employment (BLE),
 Bureau of Rural Workers (BRW), and
 Workers Amelioration and Welfare Divisions (WAWD) of our regional offices

Key Projects/Activities:

 Employment Policy Review, Development and Advocacy (ILS, Bureau)

 Employment Planning (BLE, ROs)
 Kasanayan at Hanapbuhay (KasH) (BLE, TESDA, ROs)
  Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) (BLE, ROs)
 Work Appreciation Program (BLE, ROs)
 Tulong Alalay sa Taong May Kapansanan (BLE, ROs)
 Emergency Employment for OSY/OWY in Metro Manila (BLE, NCR)
 Poverty-Free Zones (Aksyon ng Sambayanan Laban sa Kahirapan) (BRW, ROs)
 Promotion of Rural Employment Through Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship
Development (PRESEED) (BRW, ROs)
 Self-Reliant Organizations for CARP (BRW, ROs)
 Prevention of Job Loss and Assistance to Displaced Workers (ROs)
 QRT

Employment Facilitation

Under this strategy, DOLE provides employment facilitation and regulation services for local
and overseas employment. They also harness modern technology to make more efficient the
matching of job vacancies to skills.

Major Programs:

1. Local Employment Facilitation Program

2. Overseas Employment Facilitation Program

The operating agencies of this strategy are the:

 Bureau of Local Employment (BLE),

 Employment Promotion Divisions (EPD) of the DOLE’s Regional Offices, and
 Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

Key Projects/Activities:

 Public Employment Service Office (PESO) (BLE, ROs, LGUs, SUCs)

 Labor Market Information System (LMIS)-Phil-JOBNET (BLE, ROs, PESOs)
 Overseas Employment (POEA)
Employment Preservation

DOLE supports the promotion of industrial peace through education, expeditious and fair
resolution of labor disputes, enhancement of labor-management cooperation and promotion of
tripartism in policy and decision making in order to preserve jobs and enhance the quality of
employment in the country.

Major Programs:

1. Dispute Prevention and Settlement Program

2. Workers Organization, Tripartism and Empowerment Program

The operating agencies for this strategy are the:

 Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR),

 Tripartite Industrial Peace Council Secretariat,
 Labor Relations Divisions (LRD) and the Med-Arbitration Units of the Regional Offices,
 Legal Service (LS),
 National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), and
 National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and their regional units.

Key Projects/Activities:

 Administrative Intervention for Dispute Avoidance (OSEC)

 Labor Dispute Settlement and Prevention
 Conciliation and Mediation (NCMB)
 Voluntary Arbitration (NCMB)
 Compulsory Arbitration (NLRC)
 Promotion of Labor and Management Cooperation and Grievance Machinery (NCMB)
 Labor Education (BLR, ROs)
 Tripartite Industrial Peace Council
 Promotion of Unionism and Collective Bargaining (BLR, ROs)
 Workers Organization and Development Program (WODP) (BLR, ROs)
 DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

The Department of National Defense (DND) is the executive department of the Philippine
government responsible for national security. Its main functions are to defend the state against
internal and external threats and maintain law and order.

History

Even before its official creation in 1939, the history of the Department of National Defense can
be traced way back to the Spanish period or even before they conquered the Philippines. It is
manifested through able-bodied men of the village who were in charge of the protection of the
community from hostile forces.

The Katipunan is considered to be the first military government that gave birth to the armed
forces of the Philippines. Andres Bonifacio, founder of the secret society, appointed Teodoro
Plata as the Secretary of War, and later on he was replaced by Emilio Riego de Dios as the
Director of War when Emilio Aguinaldo usurped the presidency on 22 March 1897 during the
Tejeros Convention.

The revolutionary government of Aguinaldo demonstrated the Filipino's capability to organize an

army to fight colonial masters until the arrival of the United States forces.

The Philippine Commission adopted Act No. 175 on 4 July 1901, creating an insular police force
in charge of maintaining peace and order. The next month, the Philippine Constabulary was
officially constituted. Its main function was to track down the guerilla leaders and other remnants
of the Revolutionary Army.

During his presidency, Manuel Quezon presented the National Defense Act formulated by
General Douglas MacArthur to the Assembly of the new Commonwealth government . The land
defense at that time consisted only of professional Philippine regular army of some 350 officers
and 5,000 men. On 11 January 1936, President Quezon appointed Brig. Gen. Jose delos Reyes as
acting Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army by virtue of Executive Order No. 11. This also
paved the way to the inclusion of the Philippine Constabulary in the regular Army of the
Philippines, only to be withdrawn again in 1938.

The Department of National Defense was formally created on 1 November 1939, limiting Gen.
MacArthur's powers in ordering munitions, enrolling trainees and entering into contracts for the
construction of military facilities without the approval of President Quezon and National Defense
Secretary Teofilo Sison.

In January of 1941, the intelligence officer (G-2) of the Philippine Department had
recommended to his superior in Washington D.C. that a Far Eastern Command be created, with
the commander of the Philippine Department as the designated commander. It does not appear
that this idea was seriously considered until Douglas MacArthur suggested to the Army Chief of
Staff that such a command be created with himself as the Far Eastern Commander.

The United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) was a military command formed by
the United States in the Philippines during World War II to counter the threat posed by the
Imperial Japanese Army. Major General MacArthur served as its commander. Its headquarters
was established on 26 July 1941, the same time Presidential Order (6 Fed. Reg. 3825) was issued
by the President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt . This called the Philippine
Commonwealth Army into the service of the Armed Forces of the United States.

During World War II, Several Filipino and American soldiers suffered in the Death March. On 5
July 1945, Gen. MacArthur came back to the Philippines and liberated the country, declaring the
end of war in the Philippines.
Gen. MacArthur turned over the powers and functions of the government to President Sergio
Osmeña after the war. Osmeña began investigations on collaboration charges with the help of
Tomas Confessor, wartime civil governor of Iloilo and a guerilla leader of Panay, who had
become his interim Secretary of Defense Eventually. All the accused were granted amnesty.

On August 31, 1950, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Ramon Magsaysay as the new
Secretary of Defense. His strategy in making the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon
(HUKBALAHAP ) made him popular that Magsaysay won the Presidential elections in 1953.

The 1987 constitution mandates civilian control of the military and establishes the President as
Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The President also heads the National Security
Council, the policy-making and advisory body for matters connected with national defense.

Functions and Responsibilities

The main functions of the Department of National Defense are to defend the state against
internal and external threats and maintain law and order. The department's primary bureau, the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), is mandated to uphold the sovereignty, support the
Constitution and defend the territory of the Republic of the Philippines against all enemies,
foreign and domestic; promote and advance the national aims, interests and policies; and plan,
organize, maintain, develop and deploy its regular and citizen reserve forces for national
security.

DND is also tasked with the responsibility of providing the necessary protection of the State
against external and internal threats; directing, planning and supervising the National Defense
Program; maintaining law and order throughout the country; and performing other functions as
may be provided for by the law.
 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is one of the three executive
departments of the Philippine government responsible for undertaking major infrastructure
projects. The department is constituted to plan infrastructure and design, as well as to construct
and maintain national roads, bridges, and major flood control systems.

History

DPWH is considered as one of the oldest departments in the Philippine government. Its
foundation dates back to about 400 years during the Spanish colonization.

In 1868, the Bureau of Public Works and Highways (Obras Publicas) and Bureau of
Communications and Transportation (Communicationes y Meteologia) were established and
managed by a civil engineer known as “Director General.”

After the war for Philippine independence, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued the Organic Decree
of the Philippine Revolutionary Government on 23 June 1898, creating four executive
departments, one of which was the Department of War and Public Works. At the same time, the
United States took control of the country and placed the public works and activities under the
U.S. Army of engineers.

On 6 February 1901, public works and projects were placed under the “Provincial Supervisions”
by virtue of Act No. 83 passed by the Philippine Commission. The following year, the
Department of Commerce and Police was created, which gave birth to the Bureau of Engineering
and Construction of public works and the Bureau of Architecture and Construction of public
buildings. On 26 October 1905, the two bureaus became the Bureau of Public Works that aimed
to provide the need for a more extensive road network that would penetrate the rural areas. Thus,
provincial boards were created in 1907, and they were authorized to collect double cedula taxes
to finance the construction of provincial roads and bridges.

The year 1910 became witness to the first appearance of motor vehicles in the Philippine
highways. To be able to raise funds to keep roads and bridges in good condition at all times,
motor vehicle owners and drivers were required to register with a corresponding fee in 1921.
With all these developments, the Department of Commerce and Police evolved into the
Department of Commerce and Communications under Reorganization Act No. 2666 of 1916.

The Department of Commerce and Communications became the Department of Public Works
and Communications in 1931, when the Philippine Legislature passed Act No. 4007, which
lacked the proper composition and functions of the said department until its reorganization on 15
November 1935 during the inauguration of the Commonwealth Government. The DPWC was
composed of the Bureau of Public Works, Ports, Aeronautics, Coast and Geodetic Survey,
Metropolitan Water District Division of Marine, Railway and Repair Shop, National Radio
Broadcasting, Irrigation Council and Board of Examiners for Civil, Mechanical, Chemical and
Mining Engineers.

During World War II, government offices, including the DPWC, were shut down due to lack of
funds, materials and equipment, and manpower. The installation of enemy administration and the
formation of the resistance movement were also factors. It resumed its operation in 1946, with
limited human resources, funds, materials and equipment.

In 1947, the Motor Vehicles office was placed under the department's supervision and in 1954,
as promulgated by Executive Order No. 392, the DPWC was transformed into the Department of
Public Works, Transportation and Communications (DPWTC). It included the Bureaus of Public
Works, Posts, Telecommunications, Motor Vehicles Office, Irrigation Council, Flood Control
Commission, Radio Control Board, National Transportation Board and Government Quarters
Committee.

The Republic Act No. 917, or the Philippine Highway Act of 1953, provided for an efficient
highway administration and modified apportionment of highway funds. It also gave aid to
provinces and cities for the improvement and maintenance of roads and bridges.

By virtue of the Republic Act No. 1192, the Bureau of Public Highways was created in 1954 and
was placed under the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications to
manage the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.

When President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 21 September 1972, the government
implemented the Integrated Reorganization Plan No.1, which places all the infrastructure
functions of bureaus and offices under the DPWTC.

Through Administrative Order No. 2, the Bureau of Public Highways was expanded and it
became the Department of Public Highways in 1 July 1974. Five years later, MPWTC was
divided into two ministries: the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the Ministry of
Transportation and Communication (MOTC). All bureaus and offices concerned with public
works functions and activities were placed under the management of MPW. Likewise, all offices
involved in transportation and communications were placed under the supervision of MOTC.
Then, the Ministries of Public Works and Public Highways were merged by virtue of Executive
Order No. 710 on 27 July 1981. It became the Ministry of Public Works and Highways
(MPWH), with 14 regional offices, 94 districts and 60 city engineering offices, five bureaus and
six service offices, in addition to corporations and councils attached to the Ministry for
administrative supervision.

The current Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was promulgated by virtue of
Executive Order No. 124 on 30 January 1987, having five bureaus, six services, 16 regional
offices, 24 project management offices, 16 regional equipment services and 118 district
engineering offices.

Functions and Responsibilities

DPWH's main function is to continuously develop its technology for the purpose of ensuring the
safety of all infrastructure facilities and securing for all public works and highways the highest
efficiency and quality in construction.

It is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure,

especially the national highways, flood control and water resources development system, and
other public works in accordance with national development objectives.
 DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Department of Science and Technology (Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya), more

popularly known as the DOST, is an executive department of the Philippine Government
responsible for providing direction and coordination to all activities in the country related to
science and technology. The country's premier science body is also tasked to formulate policies
and programs that will contribute to the overall national development. The DOST is currently
headed by Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro.

History

During Carlos P. Garcia's presidency, the government commissioned Frank Co Tui to survey the
state of science and technology in the Philippines. Tiu was a Filipino doctor and professor who
has made a name in the field of medical research in the US. After Tiu's assessment and
recommendation, the Congress passed the Science Act of 1958, a bill seeking to integrate and
intensify scientific development in the country, to foster invention, and more importantly to
provide funds for such activities. The bill also created the National Science Development Board
(NSDB), the government's arm on all science matters. Consequently, NSDB's chairman would be
the president's science and technology adviser.

In 1982, under the Marcos administration, the NSDB was renamed the National Science and
Technology Authority (NSTA). The revamp, through the underlying modifications to the
agency's functions, gave the NSTA broader policy-making and program implementing functions.

The science body was elevated to cabinet status during the Aquino administration and was
renamed the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on January 30, 1987. Its functions
were broadened for it to be able to support local scientific efforts, develop technological self-
reliance, and promote public and private sector awareness in the sciences.
 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

The Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) (Filipino: Kagawaran
ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad) is the executive department of the Philippine
Government which is responsible for protecting the social welfare rights of Filipinos and
promoting social development. The DSWD is currently under the leadership of Department
Secretary Dinky Soliman.

History

After the Second World War, the concept of social welfare as a basic function of the state
materialized. The Philippine Government assumed the major responsibility for social welfare.

In 1915, the Public Welfare Board (PWB) was created to study, coordinate and regulate all
government and private groups engaged in social services. In 1921, it was abolished and replaced
by the Bureau of Public Welfare, which was under the Department of Public Instruction.

In 1939, the Commonwealth Act No. 439 created the Department of Health and Public Welfare.
In 1941, other than coordinating services of public and private social welfare institutions, it also
managed public child-caring institutions and the provision of child welfare services.

The Department was abolished in 1947 by President Manuel A. Roxas. He replaced it with the
Social Welfare Commission (SWC) under the Office of the President.
In 1948, President Elpidio Quirino created the President's Action Committee on Social
Amelioration (PACSA) for socio-economic reforms to counteract social unrest. In 1951, the
SWC and PACSA merged into Social Welfare Administration (SWA) and started an integrated
public welfare program.

In 1968, the Republic Act 5416, or the Social Welfare Act of 1986, elevated the SWA into a
Department under the executive branch of the government. It gave the SWA an equal status with
other social agencies like health and education.

In 1976, President Ferdinand Marcos signed the Presidential Decree No. 994, which renamed the
Department of Social Welfare into the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD),
giving it a more accurate identity.

In 1978, in line with the change in the form of government (from presidential to parliamentary),
the DSSD was renamed the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD).

Under the Executive Order 123 signed by President Corazon C. Aquino in 1987, MSSD was
renamed Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Executive Order No. 292, or
the Revised Administration Code of 1987, established DSWD's name, organizational structure
and functional areas of responsibility which further defined its statutory authority.

The passage of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 effected the
devolution of DSWD basic services to local government units.

In 1998, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada issued Executive Order No. 15 and redirected the
functions and operations of DSWD to strengthen its repositioning efforts.

In 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 15, which defined
DSWD's mandate, roles, powers and functions.

On 28 January 2005, the Department of Budget and Management approved DSWD's

Rationalization and Streamlining Plan (RSP) for implementation in the next five years. Its RSP
emphasized the Department's shift in policy, functions and programs in line with its steering role
 DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

The Department of Tourism (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Turismo) of the Philippines, more

popularly known as DOT, is the department of the Philippine government which is primarily
charged with the responsibility to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-
economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment, and to spread the benefits of
tourism to both the private and public sector.

History

The present Department of Tourism of the Philippines has its roots in a private initiative to
promote the country as a major travel destination. As a result of this initiative, the Philippine
Tourist and Travel Association (PTTA) was created by Republic Act No. 710 in 1952, with the
goal of bringing together all organizations and entities catering to travel and tourism. In 1956,
Republic Act No. 1478 created the Board of Travel and Tourist Industry to serve as the policy-
making body for travel and tourism under the auspices of the then Department of Commerce and
Industry (DCI), with the PTTA as its implementing arm.

In 1973, President Marcos created the Department of Tourism (DOT) through Presidential
Decree No. 189, with the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) as its implementing arm for
infrastructure development. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) was reconstituted and attached
to the DOT as well. Three years later, the Philippine Convention Bureau (PCB) was created as
the department’s marketing arm for conventions.
In order to be more cohesive in its functions, the DOT was reorganized in 1987 by virtue of
Executive Order No. 120 issued by President Corazon C. Aquino, and charged with its primary
functions and responsibilities. By virtue of this same executive order, the PTA remained an
attached agency of the DOT; however, the CAB was transferred to the Department of
Transportation and Communications. Meanwhile, Executive Order No. 120-A reorganized the
PCB and renamed it the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), charged with
being the DOT’s marketing arm.

In 1991, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Proclamation No. 188, adopting the Philippine
Tourism Master Plan (TMP) as the Philippine government’s blueprint for tourism development
and mobilizing all government agencies as well as the private sector to support and implement it.
The proclamation also allowed the DOT to create committees and task forces to ensure the
implementation of the programs identified in the plan.

In 1998, the Department of Tourism was one of the main offices of the government responsible
for the culmination of the centennial celebration of Philippine Independence from Spain. In
2002, the Department of Tourism headed by Secretary Richard Gordon initiated the Visit
Philippines 2003 project, which became one of its most successful tourism promotion projects.

Functions and Responsibilities

Vision

The Department of Tourism aims to improve accessibility of travel destinations, make tourism
products better and more affordable, promote a culture of tourism among local residents, and
increase recognition of tourism as an effective and efficient tool towards socio-economic
development of the Philippines.

Mission

The Department of Tourism is tasked with the mission of generating foreign currency and
employment; spreading the benefits of tourism to a wider segment of the population with the
support, assistance and cooperation of both the private and public sector; and ensuring the safe,
convenient, enjoyable stay and travel of foreign and local visitors in the Philippines.

Mandate

The Department of Tourism's mandate was first embodied in Presidential Decree No. 189 which
created the Department of Tourism in 1973. Its present mandate is contained in Executive Order
No. 120 signed in January 30, 1987, which reorganized the DOT both structurally and
functionally.

Sectors

 Office of the Secretary - provides leadership, direction, and substance to the overall
operations of the Department. It formulates policies, plans , programs, rules, and
regulations; reviews and evaluates the performance of the Tourism Master Plan; and
advises the President on all matters affecting the tourism program of the country.
 Tourism Promotions Sector - has the primary function of promoting the Philippines as a
tourist destination domestically and internationally. It devises integrated marketing and
promotional activities such as information dissemination, public relations, special events,
and related tourism programs. It likewise supervises the overseas field offices established
to implement and enhance the tourism development and promotion program of the
Department in the international field.
 Tourism Services and Regional Offices Sector – is tasked to ensure the pleasant entry,
stay, and exit of tourists. It formulates standards of quantity and efficiency for tourism-
oriented establishments, among others, done through an accreditation system. It also
monitors tourist establishments' compliance to policies to make sure that their facilities
and services are operated and maintained according to acceptable international norms.
This sector also supervises DOT's regional operations established to implement the
policies, plans, programs, and regulations of the Department and to maintain the delivery
of efficient and effective frontline services for the tourism industry.
 Planning, Product Development and Coordination Sector - is responsible for the
formulation and updating of the Tourism Master Plan, together with its component
 programs. This sector monitors the effective implementation of the Tourism Master Plan
and develops and conceptualizes new products and investment opportunities designed to
enhance tourist sites and facilities, in coordination with the private sector and other
government institutions.
 Internal Services Sector - ensures the smooth and legal functioning of the operations of
the Department through the provision of effective and efficient advice and services in the
areas of personnel management, human resource development, general services
administration, computerization and information technology services, budgetary,
financial and management services, and investigatory and advisory services.
 DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

The Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (Filipino: Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at
Industriya) is the executive department of the Philippine Government tasked to coordinate all
government activities related to trade, industry, and investments. It is charged with creating a
business-friendly environment conducive to the growth of enterprise and supportive of fair and
robust trade in goods and services, both within and outside the country. DTI is currently under
the leadership of Secretary Gregory Domingo.

History

On 23 June 1898, President Emilio Aguinaldo formed four government agencies:3 the
Departments of Navy, Commerce, Manufacturing and Agriculture.

On 6 September 1901, the Philippine Commission established the Department of Commerce and
Police.

On 5 December 1932, the Philippine Legislature Act 4007 tasked the Bureau of Commerce to
develop and promote the trade and industry of the country under the overall supervision of the
Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
After World War II, President Manuel A. Roxas issued Executive Order 94 on 4 October 1947,
which created the Department of Commerce and Industry (DCI). Appointed Acting Secretary of
DCI was Cornelio Balmaceda, Economics Professor and BOC Director.

By 1972, DCI, which was mandated to promote, develop, expand, regulate, and control foreign
and domestic trade, industry, and tourism, already has 10 regular bureaus and 22 agencies under
its direct supervision.

On 11 May 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree (PD) 189, which
created the Department of Tourism to handle all tourism-related matters.

On 21 June 1974, Marcos issued PD 488, which created the Department of Industry that was
tasked to promote and enhance the growth of existing and thriving industries in the country.
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Philippines' Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) (Filipino:

Kagawaran ng Transportasyon at Komunikasyon) is the executive department of the Philippine
government responsible for the maintenance and expansion of viable, efficient, and dependable
transportation and communications systems as effective instruments for national recovery and
economic progress.

The department is responsible for the country's rail, air, sea and communications infrastructure.

Under PD 721, the Department of Trade was created on 2 June 1975 and was tasked to
strengthen the socio-economic development of the country. The Bureau of Foreign Trade was
also established to push for domestic trade and marketing programs.

To expand Philippine trade overseas, the Ministry of Trade and Industry was created on 27 July
1981 and took over the functions of the subsequently abolished Departments of Trade and
Industry.

On 27 February 1987, President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order 133, which
reorganized the Ministry of Trade and Industry and renamed it the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI).
In 2006, DTI Secetary Peter B. Favila issued a Department Order which officially declared every
27 July of each year, the date the Ministries of Trade and Industry merged, as the anniversary of
DTI.

History

Beginnings

On July 23, 1979, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) was created
pursuant to Executive Order No. 546. Under this Executive Order, the Ministry of Public Works,
Transportation and Communications (MPWTC) was divided into two separate ministries: The
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and the Ministry of Public Works and
Highways (MPWH).

The MOTC became the primary policy, planning, programming, coordinating, implementing and
administrative entity of the executive branch of the government in the promotion, development
and regulation of a dependable and coordinated network of transportation and communications
systems.

The infrastructure projects undertaken during this period included:

 Light Rail Transit System

 Computer-Controlled Traffic Lights System
 Manila International Airport now Ninoy Aquino International Airport
 Central Post Offices in Makati, Caloocan, Quezon City, and San Juan

It was also during this period that the motor vehicle registration and control was improved with
the introduction of permanent vehicle license plates and the staggered registration system. The
operations of both the Philippine National Railways and the Metro Manila Transit Corporation
were improved and expanded. A bus leasing program provided an additional 1,000 new buses in
Metro Manila. At the same time, the Manila south line of PNR serving the Bicol region was
rehabilitated.
Post-EDSA 1986

On February 26, 1986, just after the 1986 EDSA Revolution Congressman Hernando B. Perez
was appointed Minister of the MOTC by President Corazon C. Aquino.

In March 1987, technocrat Rainerio O. Reyes, was appointed Minister of MOTC. Immediately
after, the MOTC was reorganized pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 125, and 125-A. With these
Executive Orders, the MOTC was made into a Department, under the Executive branch of the
Government.

Under Secretary Reyes, the quasi-judicial functions of the Department were transferred to the
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which was created through Executive
Order No. 202.

Under Fidel V. Ramos

Jesus B. Garcia was appointed Secretary of the DOTC by President Fidel V. Ramos. Under
Garcia, new entrants were allowed in the landline and cellular phone services, dilapitated taxi
cabs were also phased out in favor of brand new and late model units.

At Present

At present, the DOTC is expected to pursue numerous projects as part of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's thrust of improving and expanding the country's infrastructure to promote
tourism and investment, as outlined in her 2006 State of the Nation Address.
 PROJECT

IN

MAKABAYAN 6

Submitted to

Ms. Ainah P. Menor

Makabayan Instructor

Submitted by

Monifah U. Omar

Grade 6 Student
EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND DEPARTMENTS

OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES