In issuing Executive Order No. 357 last Sept. 14, the President abolished or merged these 14 offices and agencies under the Office of the President whose respective functions and mandates have already been accomplished or aligned with other agencies or departments.
Abolished were the Agno River Basin Development Commission, the Atlas Commission, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Appeals Committee, the Official Development Assistance Absorption Office headed by Secretary Mai Jimenez, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Agricultural Modernization headed by Secretary Luis Lorenzo.
The Public-Private Sector Task Force to Coordinate Philippine Participation in the Post-War Reconstruction of Iraq, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Constitutional Reforms, the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Strategic Projects, the Presidential Commission for Central Luzon Growth Corridor, and the Office of the Anti-Smuggling Presidential Adviser.
The other offices which have been effectively abolished included the North Luzon Development Plan Management Office, whose personnel shall be absorbed by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on North Luzon.
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao has been merged with the Mindanao Economic Development Council headed by Jesus Dureza.
The bipartisan Executive-Legislative Advisory Council on the Sabah Issues and Office of the Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns have also been abolished. The function of the former has been transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs, while the budget of the latter has been assumed by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Communications headed by Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr.
The President is streamlining government bureaucracy not only to rationalize government organization but also in an attempt to save money in the wake of a looming fiscal crisis.
No extension for Payumo
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will no longer extend the six-year term of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Felicito Payumo which is scheduled to expire on Oct. 15, it was learned yesterday.
Reliable sources at Malacañang said the President will announce the new set of SBMA officers when she visits Clarkfield, Pampanga today to lead the time capsule laying rites on the expansion project of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
"He (Payumo) has been advised ahead. Somebody has already told him that a new set of officers will be appointed by the President in Clark. Therefore, his term is not being renewed," said the source who requested anonymity.
Payumo succeeded Sen. Richard Gordon as SBMA chairman. It was earlier rumored that Payumo is being eyed to replace Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza.
The President will also hold her first Cabinet group meeting with the concerned government department’s clustered under the National Economic and Development Authority which include Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council headed by Vice President Noli de Castro.
Other Cabinet secretaries expected to attend the Cabinet cluster meeting are Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong, Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Energy Secretary Vincent Perez, Public Works Secretary Florante Soriquez, Science and Technology Estrella Alabastro;
Transportation Secretary Larry Mendoza, Presidential Adviser on Jobs Generation Luis Lorenzo, President Adviser on New Government Centers Rodolfo del Rosario; Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando and Information and Communications Technology Commissioner Ver Peña. (Ferdie J. Maglalang)
Recto fears another gov’t loan
Sen. Ralph Recto yesterday expressed apprehension over the possibility of government getting another loan just to cover
