Defines duties of Presidential Assistant on Minorities

Refers to non-Muslim hill tribes as identified by Presidential Decree No. 719.
Includes other non-Muslim national minorities, whether termed National Cultural Minorities or Cultural Communities.

PANAMIN operates under the Office of the President, representing the President on matters involving National Minorities.
Implements policies under Presidential Decree No. 719 and incorporates provisions from Republic Act No. 1888.
Establishes ethnographic research centers and museums to preserve artifacts and lifeways of minorities.
Designs and manages settlements and development projects for National Minorities.
Acts as the conduit for government and private assistance to National Minorities.
Authorized to provide grants-in-aid to government agencies, tribal groups, and private organizations serving minority welfare.
Provides legal, medical, relief, and other necessary assistance.
Conducts action projects supporting the objectives of the Decree.
Jointly inspects forestry land applications to protect minority land rights and issues certifications required before permits or leases are granted.
May enter contracts and agreements with governmental or private entities to fulfill its mandate, subject to Presidential approval.
Can accept and manage grants, donations, and gifts for minority welfare.
Authorized to initiate eminent domain proceedings.
Performs other functions assigned by the President relevant to national interest and security.

The office is headed by a Presidential Assistant with cabinet rank.
The Presidential Assistant enjoys privileges and prerogatives equivalent to a regular Cabinet member.

The Presidential Assistant designs the organizational framework to achieve PANAMIN’s objectives effectively.
Holds authority to appoint, discipline, remove personnel, and determine their compensation.
May exempt highly technical, policy-determining, or confidential positions from standard civil service rules.
Can engage consultants and experts from private sector or government agencies.
Permitted to appoint tribal leaders and deserving minorities without requiring civil service eligibility if it serves the welfare of National Minorities and the government.

PANAMIN exclusively issues certifications verifying bona fide membership in designated National Minorities.
These certifications are required for government appointments and for accessing benefits granted by law.

PANAMIN receives an annual lump sum appropriation adequate for its operational and programmatic needs.

Existing laws, orders, proclamations, rules, or regulations inconsistent with this Decree are repealed or amended.

If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the rest of the Decree remains effective provided the remaining provisions fulfill the Decree’s objectives.