Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1-B)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 1-B is to amend Part II on Departmental Organization of the Integrated Reorganization Plan by allowing more than one Undersecretary of a Department under certain conditions.
Before this decree, the general rule provided in the Integrated Reorganization Plan was that each Department shall be headed by a Secretary with only one Undersecretary.
More than one Undersecretary can be allowed if: (a) at the time of reorganization, there are two or more incumbent Undersecretaries and the Department Secretary certifies the need for more than one Undersecretary; or (b) at the time of reorganization, the Secretary of a newly created Department certifies the need for more than one Undersecretary.
The appointment of more than one Undersecretary in a Department must be approved by the President of the Philippines.
It is generally preferred to have only one Undersecretary to ensure professionalism, unity, and continuity in the administration of the Department.
No, the general rule of one Undersecretary applies except under the specific conditions stated for reorganization periods requiring more than one Undersecretary.
The certification by the Department Secretary or the Secretary of a newly created Department is necessary to justify the need for more than one Undersecretary, indicating that the decision is based on the specific operational or developmental needs of the Department.
Presidential Decree No. 1-B was signed on November 1, 1972.
The decree was signed by Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines.