EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 100
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY
WHEREAS, there is a need for an agency
in government with a means to communicate with the people, and in turn for the
people to vigorously express their opinions, views and beliefs to the
President; and in the same manner, a need for efficient flow of public
information required by the people to assist them in decision-making to improve
overall quality of life;
WHEREAS, the media reach in the country
is sorely limited to a small portion of the population concentrated in certain
key cities, thereby limiting access of people to information;
WHEREAS, the government in partnership
with private media, can better meet the information needs of the people;
WHEREAS, the public has a right to
information and an agency should ensure that they have access to information;
WHEREAS, basic information prior to
February, 1986, focused more on the molding of public opinion toward the
unquestioning acceptance of government thinking and that the flow of
communication was predominantly one-way, from government to the people;
WHEREAS, before little distinction was
made between political and development-oriented public information, hence
resources for public information were often used for political purposes. In
most cases, political information and/or political propaganda crowded out
development oriented public information;
WHEREAS, a) there were no regular
nationwide outlets, where citizens could obtain government publications and
materials, i.e., brochures, pamphlets; b) intermediary coordination of public
information efforts was not effective due to lack of appropriate mechanisms; c)
people's participation in the planning and conduct of information programs was
not encouraged;
WHEREAS, the manipulative nature of
government information leads to deterioration of its credibility even of its
public information officers concerned with development oriented information;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO,
President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
fundamental laws and sovereign will of the people, do hereby order the
following:
Section 1. Creation
of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to be headed by a Director.
Section 2. Mission.
The Philippine Information Agency shall provide for free flow of accurate,
timely and relevant information.
1. To assist people in decision-making
and identification of opportunities to improve quality of life.
2. To enable citizens to participate
meaningfully in the democratic processes.
Section 3. Functions.
1. Establish and maintain selected
regional/provincial information centers on community needs for use in planning
communications programs and provide basic information of government and on
areas of particular interests to the community it serves;
2. Provide technical assistance to
other government agencies on the communication component of their programs;
3. Plan and implement information
programs of national scope;
4. Assess information needs of the
people through opinion polls and surveys to be used to systematically obtain
the public's needs and views on government programs and to plan information
programs;
5. Conduct research studies for policy
formulation and the evaluation of information program effectiveness;
6. Upgrade the skills of government
information officers, rural broadcasters, communicators, journalists and other
communications personnel through training services and/or consultancy;
7. Support the development and
expansion of indigenous media and information/communications technology;
8. Perform whatever tasks may be
assigned by the President.
Section 4. Access
to Media. The Director shall have access to government media agencies not
under his direct control for the purpose of disseminating development-oriented
information.
Section 5. Organization.
The Director shall prepare an organizational structure embodying the staffing
requirements of his Office.
Section 6. Advisory
Council. An advisory council composed of communication professionals and
well-respected citizens will advise the Agency in the conduct of its activities
to ensure that information needs of the people are met.
Section 7. Budget.
The PIA is likewise directed to cause the preparation of an operating budget in
collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Management on the details
necessary to put into effect the implementation as prescribed by this Executive
Order in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations. For
succeeding budget years, appropriations for the PIA shall be prepared in
accordance with the regular government budget procedures.
Section 8. Transfer
of Records, Assets and Equipment. All records, assets and equipment of the
OMA/NMPC/MOI and their bureaus, except those of Bureau of National and Foreign
Information, Bureau of Broadcasts and the Maharlika Broadcasting Corporation,
are hereby transferred to the appropriate units of the Agency.
Section 9. Implementing
Order. The Director is hereby authorized to issue such orders, rules and
regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Executive
Order; Provided, that approval of the Ministry of the Budget and Management is
obtained relative to the new staffing pattern including appropriate salary
rates, the organizational structure at divisional and lower levels and the
alignment of existing appropriations.
Section 10. Repealing
Clause. All laws, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
Section 11. Effectivity.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 24th
day of December in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-six.
(SGD) CORAZON C. AQUINO
By the President:
(SGD) JOKER P. ARROYO
Acting
Executive Secretary
