Two national agencies will be raised to department level, the newly formed Presidential Legislative Liaison said Thursday.
The Palace body also announced the convening of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council more frequently than the previous administration did.
Following proposals from the Department of Budget and Management to “right-size” the bureaucarcy, Presidential Legislative Liaison Secretary Adelino Sitoy said the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Commission on Filipino Overseas will become full departments and their functions will be expanded.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development will replace the council to more effectively administer housing programs.
Meanwhile, a Department of Overseas Filipinos will downsize functions from the labor and foreign affairs departments.
Sitoy said President Rodrigo Duterte intends to convene the LEDAC once every two months.
He will also propose several amendments to anti-terrorism bills and impose taxes on fuel and sugary products.Duterte will also ask lawmakers to amend the National Defense Act and pass the “Bangsamoro Basic Law” to end the Moro Insurgency in the South.