Marcos issues EO 1 abolishing PACC, Office of Cabinet Secretary

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 1 abolishing the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

Dated June 30, EO 1 states that the Marcos administration endeavors to achieve a comprehensive and meaningful recovery through a just allocation of resources and a simplified internal management and governance of the Office of the President and its immediate offices and common support system.

"In order to achieve simplicity, economy, and efficiency in the bureaucracy without effecting disruptions in internal management and general governance, the Administration shall streamline official processes and procedures by reorganizing the Office of the President proper and the various attached agencies and offices, and by abolishing duplicated and overlapping official functions," the EO indicated.

Marcos said in his EO that the powers and functions of the PACC shall be transferred to the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs.

Under the EO, the said office will make recommendations on matters requiring its action to the Executive Secretary for approval or adoption or modification by the President. Further, it will promulgate rules of procedure in administrative cases under its jurisdiction.

On the other hand, the existing Cabinet Secretariat shall be placed under the direct control and supervision of the Presidential Management Staff following the abolition of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

The Cabinet Secretariat shall assist the President in the establishment of agenda topics for Cabinet deliberations or facilitate discussion of Cabinet meetings, the EO stated.

Earlier, Marcos said he instructed his Cabinet members to streamline their processes as he also gives the officials "free hand" in handling the agencies.

Marcos emphasized that his administration wants to "streamline the government" in order to provide better service to the public.

An Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs, however, was created under EO 1, which shall be under the administration of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.

The EO also said the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, the Presidential Advisers and Assistants, and the Presidential Management Staff shall coordinate with the Executive Secretary in providing staff support to the President.

Meanwhile, the EO ensured that all personnel affected by the abolition of the two offices could be allowed to avail of the benefits provided under existing laws. — RSJ, GMA News