Section 8Sec./Art. 8

Secretary of Information and Communications Technology. The Secretary shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. The Secretary shall have the following functions:

(a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of the Department and its attached agencies,

(b) Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient and economical operation of the Department, in accordance with the programs of government;

(c) Review and approve requests for financial and manpower resources of all operating offices of the Department:

(d) Designate and appoint officers and employees of the Department, excluding the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and regional and assistant regional directors, in accordance with the civil service laws, rules and regulations;

(e) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the Department in accordance with law, including their investigation and the designation of a committee or officer to conduct such investigation:

(f) Coordinate with IX5Us. other agencies and public and private interest groups, including nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and peoples organizations (POs) on Department policies and initiatives;

(g) Prepare and submit to the President through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) an estimate of the necessary expenditures of the Department during the next fiscal year, on the basis of the reports and estimates submitted by bureaus and offices under him/her;

(h) Serve as a member of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) as established by Republic Act No. 9184;

(i) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative orders and formulation of regulatory and. legislative proposals on matters pertaining to ICT development;

(j) Formulate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers as may be required to implement the objectives of this Act: and

(k) Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law or assigned by the President.