Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7157)
The title of Republic Act No. 7157 is the "Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991."
The main objective of the Act is to reorganize and strengthen the Philippine Foreign Service to upgrade qualifications of the Career Foreign Service Corps, strengthen its capability for foreign policy studies and analysis, ensure broad representation and equal opportunities, institute selection and training improvements, merit-based promotions, guarantee security of tenure, provide suitable salaries and benefits, and consolidate provisions relating to the administration of the foreign service.
The categories include Chiefs of Mission, Class I and II; Career Ministers; Foreign Service Officers Classes I to IV; Foreign Service Staff Officers Classes I to IV; Foreign Service Staff Employees Classes I to III; Alien or locally hired employees; and Honorary Consuls.
The President of the Philippines appoints the Secretary and, upon the recommendation of the Secretary, shall appoint three Undersecretaries to assist in the formulation and implementation of policies of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Recruitment into the ranks of foreign service officers shall be exclusively through open competitive examinations conducted by the Board of Foreign Service Examinations. The President shall appoint officers exclusively from those who passed the examinations, to the lowest rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class IV.
Candidates must be citizens and permanent residents of the Philippines, must have passed the competitive Foreign Service Officer examinations, and demonstrate loyalty to the Republic and adherence to Constitutional principles.
New appointees undergo a one-year cadetship consisting of six months of intensive classroom instruction on diplomatic and consular duties followed by six months of on-the-job training.
Grounds include voluntary resignation; disloyalty, unsatisfactory performance, misconduct, graft, corruption; receiving unsatisfactory ratings for three consecutive years; refusal of assignment or recall without valid reasons; and for locally hired employees, separation may be done by chiefs of mission as per local laws.
All officers and employees must retire at age 65. Incumbent non-career chiefs of mission aged 70 or above may continue until June 30, 1992. Non-career appointees serving beyond 65 are not entitled to retirement benefits.
Allowances include Overseas Allowance, Living Quarters Allowance, Clothing Allowance, Post Allowance, Representation Allowance, Education Allowance, Medical Allowance, Family Allowance, and Relocation Allowance.
It is composed of an Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs as Chairman, Head of Personnel and Administrative Services, a Civil Service Commissioner, and the Director of the Foreign Service Institute as Secretary. The Board conducts examinations, certifies successful candidates, and prescribes qualifications, subjects, and standards.
Officers must serve at least 3 continuous years in the home office before foreign assignment and alternate assignments between posts abroad and home office. Assignments abroad are generally for 6 years, with posts considered by region, and no consecutive assignments to the same post.
Promotions require satisfactory service for minimum years in rank, passing requisite examinations, and are recommended by the Board of Foreign Service Administration based on efficiency ratings and seniority. Promotions made in violation are null and void.
Composed of Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, chaired by one Undersecretary, it recommends policies regarding selection, promotion, discipline, and separation; establishes efficiency ratings; investigates administrative cases, and maintains rosters of personnel by rank and seniority.
It is the center for professional development, training, research, and planning for the foreign service career corps and other government agencies with overseas assignments. It offers courses, seminars, and serves as an institutional consultant to the Department of Foreign Affairs.