Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 378)
The main purpose of Executive Order No. 378 is to amend Section 6 of Executive Order No. 285 by removing the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Printing Office (NPO) over the printing services requirements of government agencies and instrumentalities, thereby allowing competition with the private sector.
Prior to EO No. 378, the National Printing Office (NPO) was granted exclusive jurisdiction over the printing, binding, and distribution of all government standard and accountable forms, official ballots, and other public documents pursuant to Executive Order No. 285.
Yes, the NPO still retains exclusive jurisdiction over the printing of election paraphernalia, which may be shared with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, at the discretion of the Commission on Elections consistent with the Election Code of 1987.
Government agencies may source printing services outside the NPO provided that the private sector printing services offered are superior in quality and at a lower cost than those offered by the NPO, and the private provider can meet the target completion time of the government agency.
The NPO’s appropriation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) shall be limited to its income without additional financial support from the government.
The Director General of the Philippine Information Agency is tasked with preparing guidelines and safeguards for government agencies and instrumentalities when tapping private providers for printing accountable and standard forms.
Government agencies should consider private printing providers when the NPO cannot match the price, quality, and timeliness of delivery offered by private providers.
All executive orders, issuances, orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with EO No. 378 are revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.
EO No. 378 took effect upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
The Commission on Elections has the discretion to share the printing of election paraphernalia between the NPO and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas consistent with the provisions of the Election Code of 1987.