Abolishing GSA; transfer of functions to agencies

Policy and reorganization purpose

The State adopts a policy of vesting certain general administration functions in the appropriate agencies in line with decentralization, autonomy, accountability, and optimization of existing government resources.
The reorganization integrates general services functions on building and real property management and supply coordination into the regular responsibilities of agencies with related functions.
Centralized coordination on records management and archival functions continues through attachment to a designated cultural agency.
Government printing and publication is rationalized through the creation of a national printing body with defined exclusive jurisdiction.

Abolition of General Services Administration

The General Services Administration (referred to as the Administration) and its Building Services and Real Property Management Office are hereby abolished.
The functions of the abolished offices are transferred to other agencies/entities according to the succeeding provisions.
The transfer includes applicable appropriations, records, property and equipment, and such personnel as may be necessary.
The reorganization provides for continued performance of duties by incumbents in a hold-over capacity during implementation under Section 7.

Building services and real property management transfer

The functions of the Building Services and Real Property Management Office are transferred as follows under Section 3:
- To the Department of Public Works and Highways, overall custody and administration of government buildings, including:
  - Development of criteria and standards on building services.
  - Allocation of government buildings to agency-users.
  - Related activities.
- The Department of Public Works and Highways must also conduct researches, studies, and surveys to determine:
  - Space requirements of the government.
  - Need for maintenance, repair, and alteration/improvement of buildings and grounds.
  - Allocation of new buildings.
- To the Department of Public Works and Highways, the office must inventory, inspect, appraise, and determine the value of buildings owned by the national government.
- To the Department of Public Works and Highways, it must develop guidelines, criteria, and standards on the reasonableness of rental rates in privately-owned buildings leased to government offices and vice-versa.
The Department of Public Works and Highways must dispose of government-owned buildings and determine damage caused by natural calamities to government properties for purposes of insurance claims.
The Department of Public Works and Highways must designate the building administrator for each government building.

Custody and standards for building-related properties

The functions of the abolished office are transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for:
- Custody and administration of commercial, industrial and urban properties under the abolished office’s management.
- Sale, lease, rental, or transfer of these commercial, industrial and urban lands.
The Systems and Procedures Bureau, Department of Budget and Management must develop:
- Standards and guidelines on office space allocation.
- Standards and guidelines on the provision of janitorial security, messengerial and other “housekeeping” services.
The Building Administrator designated by the Department of Public Works and Highways must allocate office space in the building for use by government agencies, subject to the standards and guidelines of the Systems and Procedures Bureau, Department of Budget and Management.
The occupants of government buildings must exercise day-to-day custody and administration of government buildings, including:
- Allocation of office space.
- Rental of excess office space to private users.
- Ordinary repair and maintenance and related activities.
Occupants of government buildings must provide janitorial, security, messengerial, and other housekeeping services subject to the standards and guidelines of the Systems and Procedures Bureau, Department of Budget and Management.

Supply coordination transfer and procurement system

The functions of the Supply Coordination Office are transferred as follows under Section 4:
- To the Procurement Service, Department of Budget and Management, for:
  - Operation of a government-wide procurement system for common-use office supplies.
  - Monitoring of prices for common-use supplies, materials, and equipment.
- To the Systems and Procedures Bureau, Department of Budget and Management, for:
  - Development of standards and specifications for common-use supplies, materials and equipment, in coordination with the Bureau of Products Standards of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Industrial Technology Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
  - Design of an integrated supply management system for government.
  - Continuing studies to establish and maintain an improved purchasing system for government that also serves as guide to agencies.
- To the different line departments and agencies for:
  - Procurement of supplies, materials and equipment peculiar to their operations.
  - Disposal of supplies, equipment and materials that are obsolete, forfeited, abandoned and surplus to their needs, subject to the Systems and Procedures Bureau’s guidelines and existing laws.
The Procurement Council created under LOI 755 dated October 18, 1978 is abolished.
The Procurement Council’s functions pertaining to:
- Standards setting, and
- Policy/guidelines formulation
  are transferred to the Systems and Procedures Bureau, Department of Budget and Management.

Disposal committee reconstitution and records transfer

To expedite disposal of unserviceable equipment and property, the Disposal Committee created in each department and agency under Executive Order No. 888 dated March 18, 1983 is reconstituted.
Each Disposal Committee is reconstituted with representatives from:
- The Owning Department or agency,
- The Department of Budget and Management,
- The Commission on Audit.
The reconstituted Disposal Committee designates the Department of Budget and Management as Chairman, and designates the other two representatives as Members.
The Records Management and Archives Office, including its applicable appropriations, personnel, equipment, property, records, and archival collections, is transferred and attached to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports as a cultural agency.
The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports is authorized to reorganize the Office in consultation with and subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management within one hundred twenty (120) days from approval of the Executive Order.

National Printing Office creation and jurisdiction

A National Printing Office is created by merger of the Government Printing Office and the relevant printing units of the Philippine Information Agency.
The National Printing Office has exclusive printing jurisdiction over:
- Printing, binding, and distribution of all standard and accountable forms of national, provincial, city and municipal governments, including government corporations.
- Printing of official ballots.
- Printing of public documents such as the Official Gazette, the General Appropriations Act, Philippine Reports, and development information materials of the Philippine Information Agency.
The National Printing Office may accept other government printing jobs, including government publications, aside from those enumerated, but not on an exclusive basis.
The details of organization, powers, functions, authorities, and related management aspects are provided through implementing details prepared and promulgated in accordance with Section II of this Executive Order.
The National Printing Office is attached to the Philippine Information Agency.

Staffing, approvals, funding, and implementation

Officers and employees of the abolished General Services Administration and its offices must continue, in a hold-over capacity, to perform their duties and receive corresponding salaries and benefits upon approval and pending implementation under Section 7.
The new position structure and staffing pattern for transferred functions must be approved and prescribed by the Secretary of Budget and Management, in consultation with the heads of recipient agencies within one hundred twenty (120) days from approval.
Authorized positions created must be filled with regular appointments by agency heads or by the President as the case may be.
Incumbents whose positions are not included in the approved staffing pattern or who are not reappointed are deemed separated from the service.
Separated employees receive retirement benefits under existing laws, rules, and regulations.
Where retirement benefits apply, separated employees instead receive payment equal to the equivalent of one month basic salary for every year of service (or the equivalent nearest fraction), based on the highest salary received, with a cap that payment does not exceed the equivalent of twelve (12) months salary.
If any organizational change authorized under the Executive Order is of such substance or materiality that it prejudices third persons’ rights recognized by law or contract such that notice to or consent of creditors is required, such notice or consent must be complied with prior to implementation under Section 8.
No organizational change prescribed under the Executive Order is valid unless it has prior approval of the President, aimed at promoting efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of public services under Section 9.
Funds needed to carry out the Executive Order provisions are taken from funds available in the GSA and its four bureaus under Section 10.
The Secretary of Budget and Management, in consultation with the heads of the respective agencies, must issue rules, regulations, and other issuances necessary for effective implementation under Section 11.

Separability, repeal, and effectivity

Section 12 provides separability: any portion or provision declared unconstitutional shall not have effect in their entirety.
Section 13 provides a repealing clause: inconsistent laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts are repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 14 provides effectivity: the Executive Order takes effect immediately upon its approval.