QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 511)
EO 511 (2006) rationalizes and reorganizes the Executive Branch’s public information functions by creating a Communications Group to guide, integrate, and supervise government public information dissemination. It is based on the President’s authority to reorganize the Executive Department and responds to overlapping public information activities among executive offices and agencies.
Section 1 creates a Communications Group in the Office of the President. Its mandate is to guide, integrate, and supervise all public information dissemination activities of the Executive Branch of Government.
The Communications Group is headed by the Press Secretary. Its members are the Director-General of the Philippine Information Agency and the Chairman of the government mass media organizations; both have the rank and emoluments of Cabinet Secretary.
It guides, integrates, and supervises public information activities—including advertisements—of Executive Branch departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, GFIs, and GOCCs in close consultation with their heads. It ensures rationalization of its directly related organizations (Office of the Press Secretary, PIA, and government mass media organizations). It also meets regularly for discussion of mass media initiatives and reports to the President problems requiring the Chief Executive’s action or decision.
Yes. Section 3 explicitly includes public information activities of GFIs and GOCCs, subject to close consultation with the head of these entities.
It may call upon any office in the Executive Branch, including GFIs and GOCCs, for such assistance as may be necessary.
Funding for its operations is sourced from the Office of the Press Secretary, the Philippine Information Agency, the government mass media organizations, GFIs, and GOCCs, subject to usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
All functions, units, properties, staff, and other resources of the Office of the Communications Director are transferred to the Office of the Press Secretary. Additionally, the Chairman of the government mass media organizations is tasked with supervising the Philippine News Agency.
EO 511 revokes Executive Order No. 348. It also repeals or modifies any other orders, rules, regulations, issuances, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with EO 511.
EO 511 takes effect immediately.
Section 3(2) directs the Communications Group to ensure rationalization mainly of the Office of the Press Secretary, the Philippine Information Agency, and the government mass media organizations.
Supervision is done in close consultation with the head of the departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, GFIs, and GOCCs concerned.
It requires regular meetings to discuss mass media initiatives and mandates reporting to the President any problems that require the Chief Executive’s action or decision, ensuring escalation for high-level resolution.
Stating Cabinet-level rank and emoluments clarifies their status within the Executive Branch hierarchy and supports their authority in guiding, integrating, and supervising major public information activities.
Per Section 7, EO 511 revokes EO 348 and repeals or modifies inconsistent parts of other issuances; therefore, EO 511 controls in matters where inconsistency exists.