Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 237)
The policy is to strengthen the Office of the President structurally and functionally in the provision of technical support to the Cabinet, the primary advisory council to the President.
The Cabinet Secretariat assists the President in establishing agenda topics for Cabinet deliberations and facilitating the discussion of Cabinet meetings.
The Cabinet Secretariat is headed by a Cabinet Secretary with the rank and emolument of a Secretary, assisted by one Cabinet Undersecretary with the rank of Undersecretary. Both are appointed by the President.
Its powers and functions include providing timely and organized information to the Cabinet, offering conference and administrative support, conducting technical research and special studies, maintaining records and archives, certifying Cabinet resolutions, and other functions as directed by the President or law.
It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and Undersecretary, and two staffs – the Technical Affairs Staff and the Conference Affairs Staff, each led by a Presidential Staff Director appointed by the President on the Cabinet Secretary's recommendation.
Only highly-qualified technical and professional people shall be appointed, and the Secretariat shall, as far as possible, draw personnel from the existing Cabinet Secretariat in the Office of the President subject to qualification standards.
They continue to perform their duties in a hold-over capacity and receive corresponding salaries and benefits. The new position structure must be approved within 120 days, after which incumbents not included or reappointed are deemed separated from service with appropriate benefits.
All applicable appropriations and plantilla items of the Cabinet Secretariat in the defunct Office of the Prime Minister and then Cabinet Standing Committee are transferred to the Cabinet Secretariat.
All applicable records, assets, and equipment are transferred to the newly reorganized Cabinet Secretariat.
Yes, the Cabinet Secretary may call upon assistance from any department, bureau, office, agency, committee, council, or other government instrumentality as needed.
The Separability Clause states that any unconstitutional portion shall not nullify the other portions as long as the remaining parts can subsist.
It took effect immediately upon its approval on July 22, 1987.