Transfer, Merger, and Absorption of Offices and Personnel.
Section 88
SEC. 88. Transfer, Merger, and Absorption of Offices and Personnel. — All properties, equipment, and finances of the transferred and absorbed agencies, including their respective financial accountabilities, are hereby transferred to the Department. The transfer, merger and/or absorption of any government office/unit concerned shall include the functions, appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, choses in action, rights, other assets, and liabilities, if any, of the transferred office/unit as well as the personnel thereof, who shall, unless removed for cause and after due process, in a holdover capacity, continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities and receive their corresponding salaries and benefits. Those personnel of the transferred, merged, and/or absorbed office/unit whose positions are not included in the new position structure and staffing pattern approved by the Department or who are not reappointed shall be given preference to join the Department or any of the offices thereunder or shall be allowed to retire under existing laws, rules and regulations. Otherwise, they shall be deemed separated and paid gratuity equivalent to one and one-fourth (1 1/4) months basic salary for every year of service or a fraction thereof. The personnel of the existing Department of Local Government shall, unless removed for cause and after due process, continue to perform their duties and responsibilities and shall receive their corresponding salaries and benefits. The heads of the various bureaus and offices created under this Act shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, recommend the organizational structure and staffing pattern of their bureaus and offices for approval by the Secretary.