Legal basis and cited enabling powers
- The Order is anchored on Section 20, Chapter 7, Title I, Book III of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987) empowering the President to exercise vested powers and functions.
- The Order is also grounded on Section 78 of the General Provisions of RA 8522 (General Appropriations Act of 1998), which empowers the President to direct changes in organization and key positions.
- The Order further relies on Section 80 of the General Provisions of RA 8522, directing department heads to scale down, phase out, or abolish activities no longer essential in health service delivery.
- It consistently frames the DOH mandate in light of Administrative Code of 1987 and RA 7160 (Local Government Code).
Policy mandate and purpose for DOH
- The DOH is mandated to provide assistance to local government units (LGUs), people’s organizations (POs), and other members of civic society.
- The assistance covers effectively implementing programs, projects, and services that:
- promote the health and well-being of every Filipino;
- prevent and control diseases among populations at risks;
- protect individuals, families, and communities exposed to hazards and risks affecting health; and
- treat, manage, and rehabilitate individuals affected by disease and disability.
- The DOH is required to undergo changes in roles, functions, organizational processes, corporate values, skills, technology, and structures to fulfill its refocused mandate under devolution.
DOH roles under the redirection
- The DOH serves as lead agency in articulating national health objectives to guide local health systems, programs, and services.
- The DOH acts as direct service provider for specific programs affecting large population segments, including tuberculosis, malaria, schistosomiasis, HIV-AIDS, and other emerging infections, and micronutrient deficiencies.
- The DOH is lead agency in health emergency response services, including referral and networking systems for trauma, injuries, and catastrophic events.
- The DOH serves as technical authority in disease control and prevention.
- The DOH is lead agency ensuring equity, access, and quality of health care services through policy formulation, standards development, and regulations.
- The DOH serves as technical oversight agency responsible for monitoring and evaluating implementation of health programs, projects, research, training, and services.
- The DOH administers selected health facilities at sub-national levels acting as referral centers for local health systems, including tertiary and special hospitals, reference laboratories, training centers, centers for health promotion, centers for disease control and prevention, regulatory offices, and similar referral facilities.
- The DOH functions as innovator of new strategies to respond to emerging health needs.
- The DOH advocates health promotion and healthy lifestyles for the general population.
- The DOH builds capacity of LGUs, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, people’s organizations, and national government agencies through technical collaborations, logistical support, provision of grants, and allocation and other partnership mechanisms.
- The DOH is lead in health and medical research.
- The DOH facilitates development of a health industrial complex with the private sector to ensure self-sufficiency in production of biologicals, vaccines, and drugs and medicines.
- The DOH serves as lead agency in health emergency preparedness and response.
- The DOH protects standards of excellence in training and education of health care providers at all levels of the health care system.
- The DOH implements the National Health Insurance Law, providing administrative and technical leadership in health care financing.
DOH powers and functions
- The DOH formulates national policies and standards for health.
- The DOH prevents and controls leading causes of health and disability.
- The DOH develops disease surveillance and health information systems.
- The DOH maintains national health facilities and hospitals with modern and advanced capabilities to support local services.
- The DOH promotes health and well-being through public information, providing the public with timely and relevant information on health risks and hazards.
- The DOH develops and implements strategies to achieve appropriate expenditure patterns in health as recommended by international agencies.
- The DOH develops and maintains sub-national centers and facilities for:
- health promotion;
- disease control and prevention;
- standards and regulations; and
- technical assistance.
- The DOH promotes and maintains international linkages for technical collaboration.
- The DOH creates the environment for development of a health industrial complex.
- The DOH assumes leadership in health during emergencies, calamities and disasters.
- The DOH ensures quality of training and health human resource development at all levels of the health care system.
- The DOH oversees financing of the health sector and ensures equity and accessibility to health services.
- The DOH articulates the national health research agenda and ensures sufficient resources and logistics to attain excellence in evidence-based health interventions.
Rationalization, staffing, and resource requirements
- The DOH must prepare a Rationalization and Streamlining Plan (RSP) to effect efficiency and effectiveness after the functional and operational redirection.
- The RSP must include:
- the specific shift in policy directions, functions, programs, and activities/strategies;
- the structural and organizational shift, identifying specific functions and activities by organizational unit and the relationship among units;
- the staffing shift, itemizing existing filled and unfilled positions; and
- the resource allocation shift, showing effects on the agency’s budgetary allocation and indicating where possible savings are generated.
- The RSP must be submitted to the Department of Budget and Management for approval before the corresponding shifts are affected by the DOH Secretary.
- The redeployment of officials and personnel on the basis of the approved RSP must not result in diminution in rank and compensation of existing personnel and must take into account all pertinent Civil Service laws and rules.
- Funding to implement the RSP must be taken from funds available in the DOH.
- The total implementation requirements for the revised staffing pattern must not exceed available funds for Personnel Services.
Separation benefits and DOH Secretary implementation authority
- Personnel who opt to be separated due to implementation of the Executive Order are entitled to benefits under existing laws.
- Personnel not covered by existing laws must receive separation benefits equivalent to one month basic salary for every year of service or a proportionate share thereof.
- Separation benefits are in addition to the terminal fee benefits payable under existing laws.
- After the approved RSP, the DOH Secretary, in addition to authority to implement the RSP, is authorized to determine the type of agencies and facilities necessary to carry out the DOH mandate and roles.
- The DOH Secretary is authorized to conduct pilot testing of programs.
- The DOH Secretary is authorized to pursue “pre-corporization of hospitals” applying strictly the principles of efficiency and effectiveness.
Related effect and administrative consequences
- The Executive Order directs the DOH through organizational redirection processes requiring RSP approval and implementation controls tied to staffing and personnel funding limits.
- The separation and redeployment rules establish enforceable protection for employees’ rank and compensation and prescribe separation pay computation where existing-law coverage does not apply.