QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 266)
Presidential Decree No. 905 increases the salaries of personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and foreign service staff by reclassifying their positions and providing a new schedule of pay rates.
It means PD 905 overrides inconsistent provisions of prior laws regarding classification and pay, so the salary schedule it provides controls notwithstanding earlier statutes or rules.
The salary increases shall be implemented in accordance with a timetable and rules and regulations approved by the President.
Section 2 provides that positions not falling under the listed classes will be subject to the existing WAPCO Classification and Pay Plans.
They include heads of mission (Chief of Mission, Class I and II), career minister roles, foreign affairs advisers, foreign service officers (Classes I–IV), and foreign service staff officers/employees (various classes).
Chief of Mission positions are classified into Class I and Class II, each with specific salary rates shown in the schedule.
PD 905 lists ‘Career Minister’ and assigns a specific salary rate for that position as shown in the schedule.
It provides separate salary rates for Foreign Service Officer, Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV, reflecting different levels within the foreign service officer career track.
It lists separate categories: Foreign Service Staff Officer I–III and Foreign Service Staff Employee I–III, each with its own set of salary rates per class.
The PD explains that the Foreign Service’s importance has increased (including development diplomacy), adequacy of financial means is needed to represent the country effectively, and inflation/energy crisis have reduced the real value of existing salaries.
It states that the President acted by virtue of the powers vested in him by the Constitution.
It requires DFA positions covered by the decree to be classified according to the schedule of classes and rates, while uncovered positions follow WAPCO classification and pay plans.
It defers implementation details to a timetable and rules/regulations to be approved by the President, so PD 905 provides the salary schedule but not every procedural detail.
Section 2 directs that such positions will follow the existing WAPCO Classification and Pay Plans.