EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 29
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 29 - MANDATING
THE STREAMLINING OF THE NATIONAL TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION
WHEREAS,
there is a need for the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) to adjust
and strengthen its operations to enable the agency to effectively serve
its mandate, address major and pressing concerns to meet the challenges
in local tobacco industry as well as respond to the growing needs of
international trade;
WHEREAS, Sec. 29, Chapter V, Book V of Executive Order No. 292 (The
Administrative Code of 1987) authorizes an agency to reduce its staff
whenever it becomes necessary because of lack of funds due to the
change in the scope or nature of an agency’s program or as a result of
reorganization;
WHEREAS, under Sec. 78 of the General Provisions of Republic Act No.
8522 (General Appropriations Act for FY 1998), the President may direct
changes in the organization and key positions in any department, bureau
or agency;
WHEREAS, as a consequence of financial constraints as well as to enable
the agency to perform better and upon recommendation of the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM), a streamlining plan for NTA has been
approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH E. ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by law, do hereby
order the streamlining of the NTA:
Section 1. Principles. — The streamlining should
adhere to the following principles:
1.
The streamlining shall be taken within the overall context of promoting
the development of the tobacco industry. It should address the current
needs of the agency and support its strategic thrusts. This will
include the review of all its operations with a set of criteria for
measuring programs, projects and services to attain the agency’s
visions and plans; and
2. Attain
optimum efficiency in the allocation of resources especially for
priority programs, projects and services by minimizing organizational
levels, reducing span of control, combining common functions, avoiding
duplication and maximizing resource utilization, but with minimum
disruption to operations.
Sec. 2. Guidelines for Refocusing of Operations. —
To give due consideration to the opportunities and challenges of the
industry, the NTA shall refocus its operations with a set of guidelines:
1.
Review the agency’s operations with a set of criteria for measuring
programs and projects to attain the agency’s visions and plans. This
will include an organizational design as set forth below:
a)
Preliminary analysis — to include data collection of the agency’s
thrusts and strategies, nature of individual unit’s work, major work
flows and elements of each as well as current problems and concerns.
b) Strategic
organizational design — to include functional groupings and strategic
linking at top levels.
c) Operational
organizational design — to include groupings at lower levels of the
organization including functional job descriptions.
2. Realign
departmental operations, modify its structure to come up with more
responsive, effective and efficient agency.
3. The number
of positions in the new staffing pattern shall not exceed four hundred
(400). However, the revised organizational structure and staffing shall
be subject to approval by the DBM. In the event that the agency fails
to submit its proposal for the revised Organization Structure and
Staffing Pattern (OSSP), the DBM shall issue the final OSSP for
immediate implementation by the NTA, one (1) month after the issuance
of this Executive Order.
4. Establish
the most appropriate staffing and skill levels for all units and
recommend assignment of personnel to specific positions. This will
include reclassification of certain positions, finalization of staffing
complement and the present work load factor.
5. An early
retirement incentive package (ERIP) shall be provided to those who opt
to retire voluntarily and those whose positions will he phased out or
closed as a result of the streamlining procedure. The ERIP shall be
over and above the benefits that they may receive from PAG-IBIG and
refund from GSIS premiums.
Sec. 3. Coverage. — This Executive Order shall
cover all regular employees of the NTA who have rendered at least one
year of continuous service to the agency. Employees, however, may opt
to avail of any existing GSIS retirement laws. The number of years in
service for qualified retirees under its laws shall be certified by the
GSIS.
Sec. 4. Transitory Provisions. — The following
provisions shall serve to guide implementation in the interim period:
1.
Incumbent officials and employees of the NTA shall continue to exercise
their respective functions, duties and responsibilities with
corresponding benefits and privileges, unless and until otherwise
ordered by the Administrator.
2. Employees
who may opt to reject assignments or appointments in the new/realigned
positions shall receive retirement benefits which they may be entitled
to receive under existing laws. Otherwise, they may be paid, pursuant
to Republic Act No. 6656 (An Act to Protect the Security of Tenure of
Civil Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of
Government Reorganization), the equivalent of one (1) month salary for
every year of service, computed on the basis of the highest salary
received.
Sec. 5. Funding. — The national government shall
provide finding assistance to NTA for the purpose of the ERIP which
shall be taken from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund under
Republic Act No. 8522. To achieve proper programming of fund, the
release of the financial assistance shall be on a reimbursement scheme
and only after the DBM has approved NTA’s restructuring.
Sec. 6. Reportorial Requirements and Timetable. —
In fulfillment of the above provisions, the NTA shall submit its
compliance report to the President through the DBM within sixty (60)
days from the date of effectivity of the Executive Order.
Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Executive Order shall
take effect one (1) day after its publication in a newspaper of
national circulation.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 30th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen hundred
and ninety-eight.