Functions of the Different Departments

Functions of the Philippine Government Departments

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Department of Agrarian Reform (Kagawaran ng Repormang Pansakahan) Its function is to lead in the implementation of agrarian reform & sustainable development in the country through land tenure improvement and the provision of integrated development services to landless farmers, farmworkers and small-landownerscultivators & the delivery of agrarian justice as key to long lasting peace and development of the countryside.

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Department of Agriculture (Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka) The Department of Agriculture is the principal agency of the Philippine government responsible for the promotion of agricultural development growth. In pursuit of this, it provides the policy framework, helps direct public investments, and in partnership with local government units (LGUs) provides the support services necessary to make agriculture and agri-based enterprises profitable and to help spread the benefits of development to the poor, particularly those in ru ral areas.

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Department of Budget and Management (Kagawaran ng Pagbabadyet at Pamamahala) Following are some of the general functions of the Department: Prepares the medium-term expenditure plan, indicating the programming, prioritization, and financing of capital investment and current operating expenditure requirements of medium-term sectoral development plans; Undertakes the formulation of the annual national budget in a way that ensures the appropriate prioritization and allocation of funds to support the annual program of government; Develops and administers a national accounting system essential to fiscal management and control;

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Department of Education (Kagawaran ng Edukasyon) The Department of Education (DepEd) formulates, implements, and coordinates policies, plans, programs and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education. It supervises all elementary and secondary education institutions, including alternative learning systems, both public and private; and provides for the establishment and maintenance of a complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the goals of national development. Some of its functions are: to supervise and control public and private education in the country; to appoint teachers and prescribe textbooks in the public schools; and to regulate tuition fees and educational standards in the private schools and universities.

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Department of Energy (Kagawaran ng Enerhiya) The Department shall have the following powers and functions: Formulate policies for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive program for the efficient supply and economical use of energy consistent with the approved national economic plan and with the policies on environmental protection and conservation and maintenance of ecological balance, and provide a mechanism for the integration, rationalization, and coordination of the various energy programs of the Government.

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na

Kayamanan) As provided for under Section 4 of E.O. 192, the DENR is mandated to be the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of the country's environment and natural resources, including those in reservations, watershed areas and lands of the public domain, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources utilization as may be provided by law in order to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos.

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Department of Finance (Kagawaran ng Pananalapi) Its functions are: Formulate goals, action plans and strategies for the Government’s resource mobilization effort; formulate, institutionalize and administer fiscal and tax policies; supervise, direct and control the collection of government revenues; act as custodian of, and manage all financial resources of Government; manage public debt; review and coordinate policies, plans and programs of GOCCs; monitor and support the implementation of policies and measures on local revenue administration; coordinate with other government agencies on matters concerning fiscal, monetary, trade and other economic policies; investigate and arrest illegal activities such as smuggling, dumping, illegal logging, etc. affecting national economic interest

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Department of Foreign Affairs (Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas) The DFA is tasked to contribute to the enhancement of national security and the protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines' competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-beneficial relations with other countries. Its specific functions are: to implement the foreign policy of the government; to initiate and draft treaties with other countries; to supervise the country’s diplomatic embassies and consular offices in other countries; to issue passports and visas; and to protect Philippine interests and citizens abroad.

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Department of Health (Kagawaran ng Kalusugan) The Department of Health (DOH) is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It is responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care and regulation of providers of health goods and services. Given the mandate, DOH is both a stakeholder in the health sector and a policy and regulatory body for health. As a major player, DOH is a technical resource, a catalyzer for health policy and a political sponsor and advocate for health issues in behalf of the health sector.

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Department of Interior and Local Government (Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal) Some of its functions are: to assist the President in the exercise of general supervision over local governments; to establish and prescribe rules, regulations and other issuances implementing laws on public order and safety, the general supervision over local governments and the promotion of local autonomy and community empowerment and monitor compliance thereof; to establish a system of coordination and cooperation among the citizenry, local executives and the Department, to ensure effective and efficient delivery of basic services to the public; and to organize, train and equip primarily for the performance of police functions, a police force that is national in scope and civilian in character.

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Department of Justice (Kagawaran ng Katarungan) Under EO 292, the DOJ is the government's principal law agency. As such, the DOJ serves as the government's prosecution arm and administers the government's criminal justice system by investigating crimes, prosecuting offenders and overseeing the correctional system. The DOJ, through its attached offices, is also the government's legal counsel and representative in litigations and proceedings requiring the services of a lawyer; implements the Philippines' laws on the admission and stay of aliens within its territory; provides free legal services to indigent Filipinos; and settles land disputes between and among small landowners and indigenous cultural minorities.

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Department of Labor and Employment (Kagawaran ng Paggawa at Empleyo) Its general functions are: to enforce social and labor legislation to protect the working class and regulate the relations between the worker and his employers; to protect and promote the interest of every citizen desiring to work locally or overseas by securing for him the most equitable terms and conditions of employment, and by providing social and welfare services; and to recommend necessary adjustments in wage structures with the view to developing a wage system that is consistent with national economic and social development plans.

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Department of National Defense (Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa) It is tasked with the responsibility of providing the necessary protection of the State against external and internal threats; directing, planning and supervising the National Defense Program; and maintaining law and order throughout the country; It exercises executive supervision over the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Government Arsenal (GA), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), and the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP).

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Department of Public Works and Highways (Kagawaran ng Pagawaing Bayan at Lansangan) The Department of Public Works and Highways functions as the engineering and construction arm of the Government tasked to continuously develop its technology for the purpose of ensuring the safety of all infrastructure facilities and securing for all public works and highways the highest efficiency and quality in construction. DPWH is currently responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure, especially the national highways, flood control and water resources development system, and other public works in accordance with national development objectives.

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Department of Science and Technology (Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya) Some of its functions are: to formulate and adopt a comprehensive National Science and Technology Plan, and monitor and coordinate its funding and implementation; to promote the development of indigenous technology and the adaptation and innovation of suitable imported technology, and in this regard, undertake technology development up to commercial stage; to develop and implement programs for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities through manpower training, infrastructure and institution-building; and to promote, assist and, where appropriate, undertake the transfer of the results of scientific and technological research and development to their end-users.

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Department of Social Welfare and Development (Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad)

To provide social protection and promote the rights and welfare of the poor, vulnerable and the disadvantaged individual, family and community to contribute to poverty alleviation and empowerment through SWD policies, programs, projects and services implemented with or through LGUs, NGOs, POs, GOs and other members of civil society. To provide a balanced approach to welfare whereby the needs and interest of the population are addressed not only at the outbreak of crisis but more importantly at the stage that would inexorably lead to such crisis. -- Executive Order No. 123

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Department of Tourism (Kagawaran ng Turismo) The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall be the primary government agency charged with the responsibility to encourage, promote, and develop tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism to both the private and public sector. It has the primary function of promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination domestically and internationally. It devises integrated marketing and promotional activities such as information dissemination, public relations, special events, and related tourism programs.

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Department of Trade and Industry (Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at Industriya) The DTI serves as the primary coordinative, promotive, and facilitative arm for trade, industry and investment activities. It acts as the catalyst for intensified private sector activity to accelerate and sustain economic growth through:   

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Department

of

Transportation

and

A comprehensive industrial growth strategy; A progressive and socially responsible liberalization and deregulation program Policies designed for the expansion and diversification of both domestic and foreign trade

Communications

(Kagawaran

ng

Transportasyon

at

Komunikasyon) Some of its functions are: to guide government and private investments in the development of the country’s inter- modal transportation and communications systems in a most practical, expeditious and orderly fashion for maximum safety, service and cost effectiveness; to impose appropriate measures so that technical, economic and other conditions for the continuing economic viability of the transportation and communications entities are not just jeopardized and do not encourage inefficiency and distortion of traffic patronage; and to promote the development of dependable and coordinated networks of transportation and communications systems.