EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 15
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 15 -
REDIRECTING THE FUNCTIONS AND OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT
WHEREAS,
the Department of Social Welfare and Development, hereafter referred to
as DSWD, has been transformed from a direct service deliverer to a
technical assistance provider as a result of the devolution of basic
services to the local government units;
WHEREAS, the DSWD seeks to serve as the national policy and regulatory
institution for social welfare and development from which local
government units, non-government organizations, and other members of
civil society involved in social welfare and development will anchor
their thrust and directions;
WHEREAS, to effectively fulfill its refocused mandate, the DSWD is
required to undergo changes in its roles, functions, organizational
processes, corporate values, skills, technology and structure;
WHEREAS, Sec. 20, Chapter 7, Title I, Book III of Executive Order
No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1997, empowers
the President of the Philippines to exercise such powers and functions
as are vested in him under law;
WHEREAS, Sec. 78 of the General Provisions of RA 8522, empowers the
President to direct changes in the organization and key positions in
any department, bureau or agency;
WHEREAS, Sec. 80 of the General Provisions of RA 8522 (FY 1998
General Appropriations Act) directs heads of departments, bureaus and
agencies to scale down, phase out or abolish activities no longer
essential in the delivery of public services;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic
of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do
hereby order the following:
Section 1. Mandate. — Consistent with the provisions
of the Administrative Code of 1987 and of RA 7160 (Local Government
Code), the DSWD is hereby mandated to provide assistance to local
government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), other
national government agencies (NGAs), people’s organizations (POs) and
other members of civil society in effectively implementing programs,
projects, and services that will alleviate poverty and empower
disadvantaged individuals, families and communities for an improved
quality of life.
Sec. 2. Roles. — To fulfill its responsibilities
under this mandate, the DSWD shall serve as:
a)
the lead line agency and authority in formulating national social
welfare and development policies, plans, programs, and statistics,
especially as these relate to family development and poverty groups;
b) the monitor
and evaluator of the implementation of policies, plans and programs on
family welfare and development and poverty alleviation efforts in the
social welfare and development sector;
c)
administrator of special social services and social development funds
intended to assist disadvantaged individuals, families and communities;
d) innovator
of new strategies on social services and development in identified
social laboratories and learning centers;
e) enabler of
LGUs, NGOs, other NGAs, POs and other members of civil society in
implementing social welfare and development programs through technical
assistance; and
f) an advocate
for social welfare and development concerns, to include disadvantaged
families, children/youth, women, senior citizens, persons with
disabilities and similarly situated individuals.
Sec. 3. Powers and Functions. — To accomplish its
mandate and roles, the Department shall:
a)
Formulate, develop and promote policies, plans, programs and projects
in the field of social welfare and development;
b) Undertake
researches and studies and adopt policies to ensure the effective
implementation of public and private social welfare and development
programs;
c) Initiate,
promote and maintain bilateral and multilateral linkages for technical
cooperation, in coordination with the Department of Foreign
Affairs;
d) Deputize
law enforcement agencies in the implementation of laws, rules and
regulations for the protection of the rights of the exploited, abused
and disadvantaged;
e) Regulate
fund drives, public solicitations and donations for charitable or
welfare purposes;
f) Set
standards, accredit and provide consultative services to institutions,
organizations and persons engaged in social welfare activities and
monitor performance on institutions, organizations and person engaged
in social welfare activities, both public and private;
g) Exercise
technical supervision over social workers in other government settings
or agencies like courts, hospitals, schools and housing projects;
h) Promote,
coordinate, establish, operate and maintain support institutional
facilities, projects and services and social laboratories and learning
centers for the benefit of its constituents and in furtherance of
social welfare and development;
i) Promote,
build and strengthen people’s organizations for a self-directing
(welfare and development) system at the grassroots level;
j) Develop and
implement training standards and programs for personnel, social workers
and students and third-country participants for career and staff
development;
k) Advocate
for and disseminate information on social development issues;
l) Provide
augmentation funding and resources to partners in social welfare and
development; and
m) Perform
such other functions as may be provided by law.
Sec. 4. Preparation of a Rationalization and
Streamlining Plan. — In view of the functional and operational
redirections in the DSWD, and to effect efficiency and effectiveness in
its activities, the Department shall prepare a Rationalization and
Streamlining Plan (RSP) which shall the basis of the intended changes.
The RSP Plan shall contain the following:
a)
the specific shift in policy directions, functions, programs and
activities/strategies;
b) the
structural/organizational shift, stating the specific functions and
activities by organizational unit and the relationship of each of these
units;
c) the
staffing shift, highlighting and itemizing the existing filled and
unfilled positions; and
d) the
resource allocation shift, specifying the effects of the streamlined
set-up on the agency budgetary allocation and indicating where possible
savings have been generated.
The RSP shall be submitted to the department of Budget and Management
for approval before the corresponding shifts shall be effected by the
DSWD Secretary.
Sec. 5. Redeployment of Personnel. — The
redeployment of officials and other personnel on the basis of the
approved RSP shall not result in the diminution in rank and
compensation of existing personnel and shall take into account all
pertinent Civil Service laws and rules.
Sec. 6. Funding. — The financial resources needed
to implement the Rationalization and Streamlining Plan shall be taken
from funds available in the DSWD, provided that the total requirements
for the implementation of the revised staffing pattern shall not exceed
available funds for Personnel Services.
Sec. 7. Implementing Authority. — Following the
approved RSP, the DSWD Secretary, in addition to his/her authority to
implement the RSP, is hereby authorized to determine the social
laboratories/learning centers and other social welfare and development
facilities necessary for carrying out the Department’s mandate and
roles, following strictly the principles of economy, efficiency and
effectiveness.
Sec. 8. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 20th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and
Ninety-Eight.
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