EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 349 - AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT SECRETARIES TO ACCEPT, APPROVE AND SIGN “BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT” THE APPLICATIONS FOR EARLY RETIREMENT OR VOLUNTARY SEPARATION OF DULY QUALIFIED PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS WHO WISH TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE BENEFITS UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6683

WHEREAS, Sec. 7 of Republic Act 6683 provides that the application for early retirement or voluntary separation of officials and employees who wish to avail themselves of the benefits under the said Act shall be accepted by the head of the government office or agency, and defines the “head of government office or agency” as referring to the Secretary in the case of bureaus, divisions and other bureaus and other offices under a department;

WHEREAS, the Joint Department of Budget and Management-Civil Service Commission Circular Letter No. 89-1, dated January 31, 1989 provides that: “[P]residential appointees, may, if qualified, avail (themselves) of the benefits under the Act, subject to acceptance of their applications by the President”;  

WHEREAS, it is for the benefit of the applicants for early retirement or voluntary separation who are presidential appointees that immediate action on their applications recommended for approval by the heads of the departments be made within the shortest time possible;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby order:

1. The Department Secretaries are hereby authorized to accept, approve and accordingly sign, “By authority of the President,” applications for early retirement or voluntary separation of duly qualified presidential appointees, in their respective departments, who wish to avail themselves of the benefits under Republic Act No. 6683 and whose applications are recommended for approval by the President.

Similar applications of duly qualified presidential appointees in government-owned or controlled corporations attached to or under their respective departments shall be acted upon by the Department Secretaries in the same manner.

2. Notices of final actions made on all the applications for early retirement or voluntary separation of duly qualified Presidential Appointees pursuant to the authority under this Executive Order shall be furnished to the Office of the President immediately.  

3. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.