WHEREAS, the National Statistics Office (NSO) has been mandated to generate general purpose statistics and implement the Civil Registry Law;

WHEREAS, the growing demand for quality statistical products and services from the National Government, local government units, non-government organizations, academe and domestic and global businesses for planning, policy formulation and day-to-day decision-making has expanded the responsibilities of NSO as reflected in the additional functions vested in the agency under various laws;

WHEREAS, the present organizational set-up of NSO has to be strengthened to enable the agency to efficiently and effectively perform its mandated functions;

WHEREAS, the intended strengthening plan for the NSO should he achieved through the decentralization of statistics generation activities, transformation of the central office units more into developmental planning and evaluation units, and increased application of information technology to NSO operations that will improve its ability to meet the rising demand for timely and relevant statistical information;

WHEREAS, under Section 20, Chapter 7, Title I, Book III of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), the President of the Philippines is empowered to exercise such powers and functions vested in him which are provided for under the laws;

WHEREAS, under Section 78 of the General Provisions of Republic Act No. 8522 (FY 1998 General Appropriations Act), the President may direct changes in the organization and key positions in any department, bureau or agency;

WHEREAS, Section 80 of the General Provisions of RA 8522 directs heads of departments, bureaus and agencies to scale down, phase out or abolish activities no longer essential in the delivery of public services, and provides that savings generated from the abolition, phase-out or scaling down of unnecessary activities may be used by the departments, bureaus and agencies concerned for the augmentation of their respective programs, projects and activities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1.       Strengthening of the National and Statistics Office. The NSO shall be strengthened to enhance its capability to perform its mandate as the major statistical agency for generating general purpose statistics and as implementor of the Civil Registry Law through the following shifts in the organization and operations of the agency:

1.1       Delegation of more substantive and administrative functions to the field offices, thus, transforming them from mere data collection arms to statistics-producing and civil registration servicing units:

1.2       Refocusing the functions of the central office units towards developmental planning, design and analysis of designated statistical activities, as well as other surveys and statistical studies requested by government agencies and international organizations; and

1.3       Greater use of information technology to facilitate data processing and analysis and promote easy access to statistical information by interested government, private and international organizations, and the general public.

SECTION 2.       Modification of the Organization Structure and Staffing Pattern. The NSO Administrator shall, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Order, submit to the Department of Budget and Management for approval the modifications in the organization structure and staffing pattern of the agency that are necessary to implement the provisions under Section 1 hereof, including the creation of key positions and/or upgrading of units, if found necessary.

SECTION 3.       Redeployment of Personnel. As necessary, the existing personnel of the NSO shall be redeployed in accordance with the requirements of the revised organization structure and staffing pattern and civil service rules and regulations. Such redeployment shall not result in diminution in rank and compensation of personnel.

SECTION 4.       Funding. The financial resources required to implement the revised staffing pattern shall be taken from funds available in the NSO, provided that the necessary staffing modifications shall not entail additional funds for Personal Services.

SECTION 5.       Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 29 July 1998



By the President:

(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary