WHEREAS, the Vice-President of the Philippines is the second highest national official July elected by the Filipino people;

WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution defines and specifies the instances or events when the Vice-President may assume and discharge the powers and responsibilities of the President;

WHEREAS, cognizant of the important role in our government, the Vice-President must be accorded an opportunity to reorganize his Office consistent with the policy of promoting economy and efficiency in government service;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Reorganization. - There shall be a total reorganization of the Office of the Vice-President: Provided, That the reorganization be done within the appropriations of the Office of the Vice-President; and, Provided, further, That the reorganization be done in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management.

SEC. 2. New Pattern and Structure. - Upon effectivity of this Executive Order, the staff of the Office of the Vice-President shall, in a hold-over capacity, continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities and receive the corresponding salaries and benefits.

The new position structure and staffing pattern of the Office of the Vice-President shall be approved and prescribed by the Vice-President within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Executive Order and the authorized positions created thereunder shall be filled with regular appointments by the Vice-President: Provided, however, That the chief of staff or its equivalent positions of staff or equivalent position or positions in the Office of the Vice-President shall be appointed by the President, upon recommendation of the Vice-President shall be appointed by the President. The chief of staff and the staff shall have the rank, salary, allowance, emoluments and other privileges of a cabinet undersecretary and assistant secretary respectively and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Vice-President.

SEC. 3. Separation from the Service. - Incumbent officials and employees in the Office of the Vice-President who are not reappointed under the new structure and staffing pattern of the Office of the Vice-President shall be deemed separated from the service and shall receive the retirement benefits to which they may be entitled under existing laws, rules and regulations. Otherwise, they shall be paid the equivalent of one-month basic salary for every year of service or the equivalent nearest fraction thereof favorable to them on the basis of the highest salary received but in no case shall such payment exceed the equivalent of twelve (12) months salary.

SEC. 4. Funding. - Funds needed to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order shall be taken from funds available in the Office of the Vice-President.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 24th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven.


By the President:

JOKER P. ARROYO
Executive Secretary