What is the role of Presidential Advisers?
As of 2008, there were 110 high-ranking officials in the Office of the President consisting of heads of 16 heads of executive and private offices, 10 heads of staff support offices, 23 undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, 11 heads of assorted units, and hold your breath, 50 Presidential Advisers! One of these is the Presidential Adviser on Revenue Enforcement. While a presidential adviser may or may not have cabinet rank, he is not considered on the same level as a cabinet member heading a government department or agency. Generally, advisers do not perform line or management functions. They do not directly supervise operating agencies. They don’t have huge offices. Advisers advise the president. In public administration, lines of control and authority have to be clear and explicit, so as not to result in confusion. There has to be distinction between line (operations) functions and staff (assistance, advice). Thus bureau heads like BIR get their marching orders from their cabine
