The Office of the Executive Secretary of the Philippines (formerly the Executive Office) is the head and highest-ranking official of the Office of the President of the Philippines and a member of the Cabinet of the Philippines.
| Tanggapan ng Kalihim Tagapagpaganap | |
Seal | |
| Cabinet overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 12, 1936 |
| Cabinet executives |
|
| Parent Cabinet | Office of the President |
| Website | Office of the Executive Secretary |
The office-holder has been nicknamed as the "Little President" due to the nature and mandate of the position "to directly assist the President in the management of affairs of the government as well as to direct the operations of the Executive Office." It is headed by the executive secretary in which appointed by the president upon confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
The office was established on October 12, 1936, with Jorge B. Vargas as the inaugural holder.
The position of executive secretary is currently held by former Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.
Powers and duties
In Book III, Chapter 9, Section 27 of Executive Order No. 292, the Administrative Code of the Philippines, the role of the Executive Secretary was defined as:
Sec. 27. Functions of the Executive Secretary. - The Executive Secretary shall, subject to the control and supervision of the President, carry out the functions assigned by law to the Executive Office and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him. He shall:
- Directly assist the President in the management of the affairs pertaining to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines;
- Implement presidential directives, orders and decisions;
- Decide, for and in behalf of the President, matters not requiring personal presidential attention;
- Exercise supervision and control over the various units in the Office of the President Proper including their internal administrative requirements;
- Exercise supervision, in behalf of the President, over the various agencies under the Office of the President;
- Appoint officials and employees of the Office of the President whose appointments are not vested in the President;
- Provide overall coordination in the operation of the Executive Office;
- Determine and assign matters to the appropriate units in the Office of the President;
- Have administrative responsibility for matters in the Office of the President coming from the various departments and agencies of government;
- Exercise primary authority to sign papers "By authority of the President", attest executive orders and other presidential issuances unless attestation is specifically delegated to other officials by him or by the President;
- Determine, with the President's approval, the appropriate assignment of offices and agencies not placed by law under any specific executive department;
- Provide consultative, research, fact-finding and advisory service to the President;
- Assist the President in the performance of functions pertaining to legislation;
- Assist the President in the administration of special projects;
- Take charge of matters pertaining to protocol in State and ceremonial functions;
- Provide secretarial and clerical services for the President, the Cabinet, the Council of State, and other advisory bodies to the President
- Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the objectives, policies and functions of the Office of the President Proper;
- Perform such other functions as the President may direct.
The executive secretary possesses so much power since the holder of the office is the chief alter-ego of the president of the Philippines, the chief executive. The executive secretary can issue orders in the name of the president, can review and modify decisions of other cabinet secretaries on appeal and can perform numerous other functions as allowed or delegated by the chief executive. The executive secretary, can also be the top coordinator of the activities of the executive branch of the government, if necessary.
List of executive secretaries
| Executive Secretary | |
|---|---|
| Kalihim Tagapagpaganap | |
Incumbent since November 17, 2025Ralph Recto | |
| Appointer | The president with the consent of the Commission on Appointments |
| Term length | At the president's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | Jorge Vargas |
| Formation | October 12, 1936 |
Secretary to the President (1936–1944)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jorge B. Vargas (1890–1980) | October 12, 1936 | December 11, 1941 | Manuel L. Quezon | |
| 2 | Manuel Roxas (1892–1948) | December 24, 1941 | March 26, 1942 | ||
| 3 | Arturo Rotor (1907–1988) | June 13, 1942 | November 30, 1944 | ||
| Sergio Osmeña |
Executive Secretary (1943–1945)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Jose Gil | October 14, 1943 | August 30, 1944 | Jose P. Laurel | |
| 5 | Emilio Abello | August 31, 1944 | February 27, 1945 |
Secretary to the President (1945–1946)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Jose Reyes | February 27, 1945 | May 24, 1946 | Sergio Osmeña | |
| (5) | Emilio Abello | May 30, 1946 | July 4, 1946 | Manuel Roxas |
Chief of the Executive Office (1946–1947)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (5) | Emilio Abello | July 4, 1946 | September 3, 1947 | Manuel Roxas | |
| 7 | Nicanor Roxas | September 10, 1947 | October 3, 1947 |
Executive Secretary (1947–1975)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (7) | Nicanor Roxas | October 4, 1947 | February 6, 1948 | Manuel Roxas | |
| (5) | Emilio Abello | February 26, 1948 | September 14, 1948 | ||
| Elpidio Quirino | |||||
| 8 | Teodoro Evangelista | September 16, 1948 | May 8, 1951 | ||
| 9 | Marciano Roque | February 2, 1952 | December 29, 1953 | ||
| 10 | Fred Ruiz Castro (1914–1979) | December 30, 1953 | October 26, 1955 | Ramon Magsaysay | |
| 11 | Fortunato de Leon | April 12, 1956 | December 30, 1957 | ||
| Carlos P. Garcia | |||||
| 12 | Juan Pajo | January 16, 1958 | August 28, 1959 | ||
| 13 | Natalio Castillo | January 24, 1960 | September 5, 1961 | ||
| 14 | Rafael M. Salas (1928–1987) | January 1, 1966 | July 24, 1969 | Ferdinand Marcos | |
| 15 | Ernesto Maceda (1935–2016) | July 26, 1969 | February 7, 1970 | ||
| 16 | Alejandro Melchor Jr. | February 9, 1970 | November 4, 1974 | ||
| 17 | Ponciano Mathay | November 7, 1974 | December 7, 1975 |
Presidential Executive Assistant (1975–1986)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Jacobo Clave | December 8, 1975 | December 23, 1979 | Ferdinand Marcos | |
| 19 | Juan Tuvera | December 30, 1979 | February 22, 1986 | ||
| 20 | Joker Arroyo (1927–2015) | February 25, 1986 | March 25, 1986 | Corazon Aquino |
Executive Secretary (since 1986)
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | President |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (20) | Joker Arroyo (1927–2015) | March 25, 1986 | September 15, 1987 | Corazon Aquino | |
| 21 | Catalino Macaraig Jr. (1927–2003) | September 17, 1987 | December 14, 1990 | ||
| 22 | Oscar Orbos (born 1951) | December 16, 1990 | July 14, 1991 | ||
| 23 | Franklin Drilon (born 1945) | July 15, 1991 | June 30, 1992 | ||
| — | Peter Garrucho Jr. Acting | July 1, 1992 | September 13, 1992 | Fidel V. Ramos | |
| 24 | Edelmiro Amante (1933–2013) | September 14, 1992 | June 30, 1993 | ||
| 25 | Teofisto Guingona Jr. (born 1928) | July 6, 1993 | May 19, 1995 | ||
| 26 | Ruben Torres (born 1941) | May 20, 1995 | January 8, 1998 | ||
| 27 | Alexander Aguirre | January 9, 1998 | June 30, 1998 | ||
| 28 | Ronaldo Zamora (born 1944) | July 1, 1998 | December 31, 2000 | Joseph Estrada | |
| 29 | Edgardo Angara (1934–2018) | January 6, 2001 | January 20, 2001 | ||
| 30 | Renato de Villa (born 1935) | January 22, 2001 | May 7, 2001 | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | |
| 31 | Alberto Romulo (born 1933) | May 8, 2001 | August 24, 2004 | ||
| 32 | Eduardo Ermita (1935–2025) | August 24, 2004 | February 23, 2010 | ||
| 33 | Leandro Mendoza (1946–2013) | February 24, 2010 | June 30, 2010 | ||
| 34 | Paquito Ochoa Jr. (born 1960) | June 30, 2010 | June 30, 2016 | Benigno Aquino III | |
| 35 | Salvador Medialdea (born 1951) | June 30, 2016 | June 30, 2022 | Rodrigo Duterte | |
| 36 | Vic Rodriguez (born 1973) | June 30, 2022 | September 17, 2022 | Bongbong Marcos | |
| 37 | Lucas Bersamin (born 1949) | September 27, 2022 | November 17, 2025 | ||
| 38 | Ralph Recto (born 1964) | November 17, 2025 | Incumbent |
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