Purpose and policy intent
- Executive Order No. 19 responds to numerous complaints received by the Office of the President on how officials and personnel in the Executive Departments and related government entities perform duties entrusted to them by law.
- Executive Order No. 19 addresses complaints against the acts, conduct, or behavior of officials or employees of Executive Departments, agencies, and government-owned or controlled corporations.
- Executive Order No. 19 aims to expedite actions on all such complaints.
- Executive Order No. 19 encourages public participation to make government service more responsive to people’s needs.
Committee under the Office of the President
- The Complaints and Action Committee is directly under and responsible solely to the President of the Philippines.
- The Committee is headed by a Technical Assistant designated by the President as Chairman.
- The Chairman may be supported by personnel as may be required to carry out the Committee’s duties and functions.
- Personnel from other Executive Departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, instrumentalities, and government-owned or controlled corporations may be assigned or detailed to the Committee upon recommendation of the Chairman.
What complaints the Committee handles
- The Committee receives, processes, evaluates, and conducts or causes preliminary fact-finding investigations of complaints on the manner executive entities perform duties entrusted to them by law.
- The Committee receives, processes, evaluates, and conducts or causes preliminary fact-finding investigations of sworn complaints against the acts, conduct, or behavior of any official or employee of covered executive entities.
- The Committee’s fact-finding work focuses on preliminary investigation before referral for appropriate action.
Core duties and functions
- The Committee refers and/or recommends to the concerned governmental agency all complaints it receives, so that justice, economy, efficiency, and a high standard of morality are observed and achieved in government operations.
- The Committee keeps the President informed on the implementation of government measures designed to improve public service and the efficiency of government personnel.
- The Committee makes and submits appropriate recommendations from time to time to improve the administration of government and essential services and operations.
- The Committee performs such other duties and related functions as the President may assign from time to time.
Powers during preliminary investigations
- The Chairman is authorized to utilize and allow the use of any form of transportation or means of conveyance in official travels of the Chairman or Committee personnel.
- The Chairman or a representative may summon witnesses by subpoena and subpoena duces tecum.
- The Chairman or a representative may administer oaths.
- The Chairman or a representative may take testimony relevant to the Committee’s preliminary fact-finding investigation.
Government cooperation and designated liaison officials
- All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, instrumentalities, and government-owned or controlled corporations must extend full assistance and cooperation to the Chairman or the Chairman’s representative.
- To facilitate cooperation, the heads of covered executive entities must designate an official whose services are made available to the Committee whenever required on matters pertaining to their respective entities.
- The designated official’s services must be available whenever required by the Committee for matters pertaining to that entity.