Title
Presidential Duties During Absence
Law
Executive Order No. 177
Decision Date
Mar 30, 1969
During the President's official absence, Executive Order No. 177 mandates that the Vice-President oversee public affairs, while the Executive Secretary manages administrative functions, ensuring continuity in governance and communication with the President.
A

Vice-President's Role

  • Exercises general supervision over executive departments except administrative functions.
  • Presides over Cabinet meetings.
  • Represents the President in social functions and official ceremonies.
  • Receives and returns official calls of foreign dignitaries on behalf of the President.
  • Entitled to honors and courtesies due the President in official capacities.
  • May meet visitors in the President’s Study Room.

Executive Secretary's Responsibilities

  • Exercises general supervision over administrative functions of executive departments.
  • Signs documents ordinarily signed by him by or under the President's authority.
  • Decides routine matters.

Department Secretaries' Authority and Procedures

  • Attend to and decide matters pertaining to their respective departments within legal authority.
  • For matters requiring presidential approval, urgent action must be cleared via radio through the Executive Secretary.
  • For important matters affecting general government policies:
    • May communicate with the President through the Executive Secretary by radio or other means.
  • If no Secretary is present, the designated Undersecretary may act on their behalf.

Limitations on Important Matters

  • Matters involving new policies, economic development guidelines, investments, loans, or disposal of valuable government properties must be deferred until the President’s return.
  • Urgent cases require prior clearance from the President.

Communication Protocol

  • All official communications to the President must be routed through or by the Executive Secretary.

Formalization

  • The instructions were issued formally in Manila on March 30, 1969, by President Ferdinand E. Marcos through Executive Secretary Rafael M. Salas.

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