Exception to the One Undersecretary Rule
- More than one Undersecretary may be allowed only under specific conditions:
- When, at the time of reorganization, there are already two or more incumbent Undersecretaries in a Department, and the Department Secretary certifies the need for multiple Undersecretaries.
- When a newly created Department Secretary certifies the necessity for more than one Undersecretary at the time of reorganization.
Approval Process for Multiple Undersecretaries
- Even if these conditions are met, the appointment of more than one Undersecretary requires express approval from the President.
Legal Authority and Context
- The amendment is issued under the authority of Proclamation No. 1081 and General Order No. 1, both from 1972, within the context of enacting reforms in the country's social, economic, and political structures.
- This decree is a modification of Article II, Part II of the original Integrated Reorganization Plan.
Purpose and Rationale
- The general policy favors a single Undersecretary for efficiency and administrative coherence.
- Exceptions acknowledge the practical staffing needs of certain Departments, especially during phases of growth or specific functional requirements.
Effective Date and Execution
- The decree was signed and took effect on November 1, 1972, in Manila, Philippines.
- The President and the Secretary of the Executive Department are the key signatories endorsing the decree.