The Department of Education (DepEd) is a government agency in the Philippines that manages and controls the country’s education system. Under this department are different bureaus, divisions, offices, services, and units established to supervise and implement various functions and responsibilities to deliver DepEd programs and projects effectively. Due to many offices and units that require guidance and supervision, the department issued DepEd Order 1, series 2023.
Also Read: DepEd Homeroom Guidance Program
It contains the organizational strands of DepEd, including their respective responsibilities and functions. This order is issued to address the changing needs of learners and stakeholders and develop long-term education reforms. Furthermore, it promotes accountability, shared governance, unity, harmony, interdependence, and synchronicity within the department. DepEd Order 1 also enclosed Annexes relevant to the DepEd strand’s functional areas of responsibility.
What is DepEd Order 1
Issued by the Department of Education on January 9, 2023, DepEd Order (DO) 1, series (s.) 2023, enclosed the “Revised Designation of Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries to their Strands and Functional Areas of Responsibilities and Revised Signing Authorities.” This order follows the recently concluded Strand Management Review (MR) on Organization and Workforce Capacity, a preliminary proposal for reengineering the Department of Education.
In addition, the order ensures proper implementation of the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030, consistent enhancement of DepEd’s Quality Management System (QMS), and alignment of the present organization with DepEd’s organizational structure and clustering of offices in 2013 Rationalization Program. Hence, the issuance of this order amends the following:
- DepEd Order 45, s.2O22 (Designating the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries to their Strands and Functional Areas of Responsibilities)
- DepEd Order 46, s. 2022 (Amendments to DepEd Order No. 043, s. 2022 or the Omnibus Travel Guidelines for All Personnel of the Department of Education)
- DepEd Order 42, s. 2022 (Delegation of Signing Authority to the Undersecretary-chief of Staff)
- DepEd Order 23, s. 2022 (Amendment to DepEd Order No. 008, s. 2021, titled the Revised Signing Authorities for Administrative and Financial Matters in the Department of Education)
Revised Designation of Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries to their Strands and Functional Areas of Responsibilities and Revised Signing Authorities
Organizational Strands of DepEd
This order designates DepEd units and offices in the applicable strand, similar to their respective functions and objectives. Here are the following organizational strands of DepEd:
- Curriculum and Teaching (“CT”)
- Human Resource and Organization Development (“HROD”)
- Operations (“OPS”)
- School Infrastructure and Facilities (“SIF”)
- Legak and Legislative Affairs (“LLA”)
- Administration (“ADMIN”)
- Finance
- Procurement
Amendments on Section 6 of DO 45, s. 2022
The following directives in this order comply with prevailing laws:
Designating the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries to their organizational strands.
This amendment designates the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries to their organization strands, allowing them to exercise supervision and control over their respective DepEd organizational units and functional areas of responsibility, including:
A. Curriculum and Teaching (CT)
To perform its mandates, functions, and powers based on existing DepEd issuances and laws, CT should ensure the organization prioritizes responsive, relevant, and inclusive basic education programs supported by all offices and other strands. CT should also spearhead the continuous development of research-based curricula and teaching practices supported by applicable assessment models, learning delivery, and quality learning resources. The functional areas of CT include the following, but not limited to:
- Curriculum Development
- Learning Delivery
- Education Assessment and Research
- Learning Resources
- Alternative Education (Alternative Learning Systems)
This strand covers the following DepEd bureaus, divisions, and units:
1. Gina O. Gonong
Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching
2. Alma Ruby C. Torio
Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Teaching – Curriculum Development, Learning Resources, and Learning Delivery
Bureau of Curriculum Development
- Curriculum Standards Development Division
- Special Curricular Programs Division
Bureau of Learning Resources – Manila and Cebu
- Learning Resources Production Division
- Learning Resources Quality Assurance Division
Bureau of Learning Delivery
- Teaching and Learning Division
- Student Inclusion Division
- Indigenous People’s Education Office
3. G.H. S. Ambat
Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Teaching – Education Assessment and Alternative Learning System
Bureau of Education Assessment
- Education Assessment Division
- Education Research Division
Bureau of Alternative Education
- Policy and Quality Assurance Division
- Program Management and System Development Division
Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat
Also Read: Brigada Pagbasa Program
B. Human Resource and Organization Development (HROD)
The HROD should guarantee that integrated and holistic strategies or approaches can help develop plans, policies, guidelines, standards, and programs on organization development and human resource management for DepEd teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as monitoring and assessing their implementation toward continuous development.
HROD covers the following DepEd bureaus, divisions, and units:
1. Gloria Jumamil-Mercado
Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development
Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development
- Human Resource Development Division
- Organization Effectiveness Division
- School Effectiveness Division
- Employee Welfare Division
- Employee Health and Wellness Center
- Personnel Division
National Educators Academy of the Philippines
- Professional Development Division
- Quality Assurance Division
Teacher Education Council Secretariat
C. Operations (OPS)
The OPS will perform its mandates, functions, and powers by ensuring the organization of DepEd is certified to continuously enhance and utilize strategies to manage the environment where teaching and learning occur. OPS functional areas include but are not limited to the following:
- Promote non-curriculum-based learner development services and programs
- Advances education support services, which promotes “learner readiness.”
- Manage disasters and risk factors that can cause possible effects on the learning environment
This strand covers the following DepEd services, offices, divisions, and units:
1. Revsee A. Escobedo
Undersecretary for Operations
- Learner Rights and Protection Office
- Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service
2. Francis Cesar B. Bringas
Assistant Secretary for Operations
- Field Operations (including Regional Offices, Schools Division Offices, and Schools and Learning Centers)
- Private Education Office
- Palarong Pambansa Secretariat
3. Dexter A. Galban
Assistant Secretary for Operations
- Bureau of Learner Support Services
- School Health Division
- School Sports Division
- Youth Formation Division
D. School Infrastructure and Facilities (SIF)
Meanwhile, SIF’s primary responsibility is to formulate and enforce the policies, guidelines, and standards to ensure effective and efficient implementation of DepEd projects and programs that provide applicable educational infrastructure and facilities to create environments conducive to teaching and learning activities.
The SIF strand covers the following DepEd division and office:
1. Epimaco V. Densing III
Undersecretary for School Infrastructure and Facilities
- Education Facilities Division
- School Infrastructure Program Management Office
E. Legal and Legislative Affairs (LLA)
The LLA organizational strand has the key focus on improving the capacity of DepEd to effectively address and cope with all matters in the department with legal implications, including:
- Rendition of timely legal advice and opinions
- Just and speedy investigation, adjudication, and resolution of disciplinary cases
- Effective utilization and implementation of different modes of alternative dispute resolution in the department
- Responsive and timely conduct of legal review
- Formulation of rules, regulations, and guidance documents
LLA strand covers the following DepEd services, offices, and divisions:
1. Jose Arturo C. De Castro
Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs
2. Amanda Marie F. Nograles
Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs
Legal Service
- Investigation Division
- Legislative Liaison Office
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Office
Also Read: Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) Program for Filipino Students
F. Administration (ADMIN)
Its mandate, function, and powers focus on bolstering the administrative services of DepEd to guarantee effective and efficient support throughout the organization.
The ADMIN strand covers the following DepEd services, divisions, and units:
1. Kristian R. Ablan
Undersecretary for Administration
2. Christopher Lawrence S. Arnuco
Assistant Secretary for Administration
a. Administrative Service
- General Services Division
- Asset Management Division
- Cash Division
- Records Division
- Security Services
b. Planning Service
- Educational Management Information System Division
- Planning and Programming Division
- Policy Research and Development Division
c. Information and Communications Technology Service
- Solutions Development Division
- Technology Infrastructure Division
- User Support Division
d. Teachers Camps in Baguio City and Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya
Also Read: Republic Act No. 4670: Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
G. Finance
This organizational strand ensures the management of DepEd’s budget and other financial matters to assist its operations. The Finance should also ensure that relevant budgetary and financial information or data of DepEd are recorded, stored, and available when requested by the Secretary, any member of the DepEd ExeCom, or whenever deemed necessary by law. Additionally, the Finance should guarantee effective and efficient management of capital-intensive foreign-assisted projects and programs.
Finance covers the following DepEd services, offices, divisions, or units:
1. Annalyn M. Sevilla
Undersecretary for Finance
Finance Service
- Accounting Division
- Budget Division
- Employee Accounts Management Division
Project Management Service
- Project Development Division
- Project Management Division
Education Programs Management Office
Voucher Program Management Office
Also Read: NQESH DepEd – National Qualifying Examination for School Heads
H. Procurement
The Procurement organizational strand should ensure the conduct of DepEd in its procurement activities complies with all existing and applicable laws, policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures of government procurement, including the procurement of goods, consulting services, and contracts for infrastructure projects as per RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
This strand covers the following DepEd services and divisions:
1. Gerard L. Chan
Undersecretary for Procurement
2. Omar Alexander V. Romero
Assistant Secretary for Procurement
a. Procurement Management Service
- Contract Management Division
- Procurement Planning and Management Division
- Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat Division
Office of the Secretary (OSEC)
Strategic Management (STRATMA)
STRATMA should provide DepEd with overall strategic management to allow the organization to perform its long-term directions and effectively interface with the internal and external environment. Its functions include policy development, enhancement, and monitoring, covering the following DepEd services, divisions, and units:
1. Public Affairs Service
- Communications Division
- Publications Division
- Public Assistance Action Center
2. External Partnership Service
- International Cooperation Office
3. Internal Audit Service
- Management Audit Division
- Operations Audit Division
DepEd Order 1 Full Memo Download
To access and download the complete PDF of DepEd Order No. 1, series of 2023, a direct link is available on this page. By clicking the download button below, you can easily obtain a copy of DepEd Order 1 in PDF format.
Full PDF DepEd 1 memo file: https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DO_s2023_001.pdf
Video: DepEd Order No.001, s. 2023 REENGINEERING DEPED
To learn more about DepEd Order 1, watch the video below:
As discussed in the video, DepEd Order 1, series 2023, contains the Revised Designation of Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries to their Strands and Functional Areas of Responsibilities and Revised Signing Authorities. This order aims to improve the existing functions, staffing, and reporting of DepEd’s bureaus, services, divisions, offices, and units. Nonetheless, this order should not preclude the Secretary from signing documents and exercising her authority if necessary. Thus, DepEd officials and personnel, teaching or non-teaching staff, should adhere to this order.
Summary
Overall, the issuance of DepEd Order 1, series 2023, is essential to ensure that the functions and responsibilities of all DepEd bureaus, services, divisions, offices, and units align with its programs and projects. Moreover, this order promotes improvement in policies, guidelines, and standards, including the efficient and effective implementation of the department’s initiatives to provide accessible, fair, and quality basic education. Therefore, concerned stakeholders should comply and ensure proper implementation of this order.