PLJ volume 37 number 1 -01- Deogracias Eufemio

A. VaUdity of Reorganization Plam No. 20-A.
1. Grant of original and exclusive jurisdiction over all money
claims of employ.ees or laborers to Regional Offices is invalid.
Rep. Act No. 997 62 created the Government Survey and Reorganization
Commission to conduct a study and investigation of the
organization and methods of operation of all departments, offices,
bureaus, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of
the Government, and determine what change or changes are necessary
to accomplish economyand efficiencyof operations of the government
to the fullest extent possible. 63 The Commissionwas author.
ized to group, coordinate, abolish, create and reorganize departments,
bureaus, offices, agencies, positions and functions." Purportedly in
the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by the statute, thp
Commission prepared and promulgated Reorganization Plan No.
20 A.66
Under this reorganization plan, Regional Offices were created
under the Department of Labor e6 and vested with the following
authority:
"Sec. 25. Each regional office shall have original and exclusive jwrisdiction
over (a) all cases falling under the Workmen's Compensation Law;
(b) ,all cases affecting money claims arising from violations of labor standards
on working conditions, unpaid wages, underpayment, overtime, separation
pay and maternity leave of employees and laborers; and (c) .all cases
for unpaid wages, overtime, separation pay, vacation pay and payment
for medical services of domestic help."
It must be noted that prior to the promulgation of Reorganization
Plan No. 20 A, the adjudication of cases involving money claims
of employeesor laborers, except as to claims for compensation under
the Workmen's Compensation Law,67falls within the jurisdictional
competence of courts of justice. 68 The sweeping grant of original
•• Approved. June 9. 1954. This Act was amended by Rep. Act No. 1241 (June 9, 1955) .
• 3 Sec. 3 In relation to Sec. 2 (3). Rep. Act No. 997. as amended .
•• Sec. 4, Rep. Act No. 997, as amended .
•• This reorganization plan was submitted to the President, who transmitted the same to
Congress on Feb. 14, 1956. Congress adjourned its sessions without passing a resolution adopt-
Ing or rejecting the plan .
•• Sec. 24 of the Reorganization Plan No. 20-A provides:
"There are established Regional Offices to function as administrative and coordinative units
each to be under a Regional Administrator who shall be responsible for all labor services and
activities in his regiol'>, subject to direct authority only from the Office of the Secretary (of
Labor) through a Director of Field Operations x x x"
There is no question that the creati