Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10166)
The main purpose of DAR Administrative Order No. 8 is to create Public Assistance and Complaints Units (PACUs) in the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to receive and act on complaints and requests for assistance from the public regarding agrarian reform matters.
The creation of PACUs was mandated under Administrative Order No. 110, signed by President Corazon C. Aquino, which took effect on January 23, 1989.
PACUs are established in the Public Affairs Staff (PAS) at the Office of the Secretary for the DAR Central Office, and in each of the thirteen (13) Regional Offices of the Department.
The Public Affairs Staff (PAS), under a Director, directly supervises the PACUs in the DAR Central Office.
A Special Assistant for PACU is designated to perform the functions of the PACU at the DAR Central Office.
In the Regional Offices, the Regional Information Officers and Editors perform the functions of PACU and are designated as Regional Action Officers for Public Information, Assistance, and Complaints.
The Regional Action Officers operate under the direct supervision and control of the Regional Directors at the regional level and under the functional supervision of the PAS Director at the national level.
A Special Assistant for Regional Public Information, Assistance, and Complaints is designated to coordinate and monitor the regional PACUs from the Central Office.
Every office, bureau, and unit in the DAR Central Office must designate a contact person for PACU-related matters in coordination with the PACU Central Office desk.
The Secretary of Agrarian Reform has direct control and guidance over the PACUs and their functions in the DAR.
The PAS Director drafts implementing strategies for the PAS and Regional Information Officers and Editors to effectively exercise public assistance functions and recommends guidelines for handling complaints or requests related to DAR and CARP matters.
Administrative Order No. 8 became effective immediately upon adoption on April 26, 1989.