Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 288)
The organization and functions of the Department of Health are based on Reorganization Plans Nos. 12-A, 13-A, and 14-A and are promulgated pursuant to Republic Act No. 997, as amended by Republic Act No. 1241, upon the recommendation of the Government Survey and Reorganization Commission.
The Secretary of Health is authorized to make such changes as may be necessary to reflect changes in legislation, conditions, needs, or workloads, provided they conform to the general pattern of organization set forth in the Plans and Implementing Details and no changes may be made during the fiscal year 1957 without specific approval of the President.
The Department consists of the Office of the Secretary, Advisory Councils and Boards to the Secretary, Office of Administrative Services, Office of Health Education and Personnel Training, Office of the Undersecretary for Health and Medical Services, Office of the Undersecretary for Special Health Services, Bureau of Health Services, Bureau of Disease Control, Bureau of Medical Services, Bureau of Research and Laboratories, Bureau of Quarantine, and eight Regional Offices with corresponding provincial and local offices.
The Secretary is responsible for health activities including public health, disease prevention, curative and rehabilitative programs, health and medical education services, advising the President on health policies, administering and coordinating health activities and services, and delegating authority within the Department.
This Office advises the Secretary on administrative services, establishes administrative standards and regulations, provides consultative and technical services for organizational improvement, plans a coordinated control program to evaluate progress, evaluates administrative performance, and provides effective internal controls to prevent errors and irregularities.
It has four divisions: Personnel and Records Division, Budget and Finance Division, General Services Division, and Legal Division.
The Reports Control Group surveys all recurring reports, develops a report control system, issues control numbers for approved reports, recommends eliminating unnecessary or duplicate reports, and limits reporting to only useful and essential reports.
This Office is responsible for planning and directing programs for public health education and information, developing and coordinating training programs for health personnel, disseminating health information materials, and collecting and analyzing vital health statistics for the Department.
The Bureau consists of multiple divisions: Division of Malaria, Division of Tuberculosis, Division of Sanitaria (leprosy), Division of Social Hygiene, Division of Cancer Control, and Division of Mental Hygiene, each focusing on specific disease control functions.
Appropriations totaling over 43 million pesos for the fiscal year 1956-1957 are reallocated among various programs and services within the Department, including general administration, health education, personnel training, medical and disease control services, research and laboratories, quarantine services, and regional health operations, subject to adjustments by the Commissioner of the Budget.