The "Dragon Lady" will stay put for two more months.
President Estrada said he will let Secretary Leonora De Jesus stay on as chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) until April, or after he has signed an executive order that would create the Office of the Chief of Staff.
"There will be a transition period," the President told reporters. "De Jesus remains at the PMS during this transition... perhaps, a two-month transition."
He explained that the PMS would not be totally abolished, but some, if not most, of its functions will be absorbed by the Office of the Chief of Staff.
De Jesus, according to the Chief Executive, has agreed to such a set-up.
Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican said the executive order will actually realign the functions of agencies under the Office of the President.
Last Saturday, Mr. Estrada instructed De Jesus to start focusing on the government's housing program as he has already officially appointed Aprodicio Laquian as his chief of staff.
Laquian, who renounced his Canadian citizenship last week, will assume his post today.
However, the 65-year-old former University of the Philippines professor refused to describe what his new job will be.
Mr. Estrada expressed belief that De Jesus will not have a hard time tackling the government's housing program since she is currently the vice chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
The HUDCC oversees the programs of all shelter agencies such as the National Housing Authority, the Home Development Mutual Fund, the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., the Home Insurance Guarantee Corp. and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.
HUDCC, according to lawmakers, would be transformed into the Department of Housing.
Senate Majority Leader Franklin Drilon assured the President earlier that a bill creating a housing department will be passed within two months.
He told a press conference that the Senate committee on government reorganization may soon pass the bill creating such an agency.
"We should be able to pass this into law within the next two months," he said. "This is in support to the President's housing program, which is also a priority legislative measure."
The President's instructions for De Jesus to give more of her time to the housing program was aired during Mr. Estrada's radio program on Saturday.