Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 284)
The primary purpose of Executive Order No. 284 is to prescribe the rules and regulations governing the administration of the civilian faculty of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and to update its Faculty Merit System.
The PMA was created by the National Defense Act.
The PMA has the authority to grant a baccalaureate degree to its graduates.
The increase in the number of cadets necessitated the hiring of civilian instructors to augment the military officers comprising the faculty.
Civilian faculty members are compensated according to Republic Act No. 6758, the Salary Standardization Law.
The increase in the monthly base salary of a PMA cadet under Republic Act No. 9166 made cadets' salaries higher than some civilian faculty ranks, creating an unfavorable salary disparity that affected morale and productivity.
Applicants must have appropriate training and experience, undergo a stringent selection process (including interviews, teaching demonstration, physical and neuro-psychological exams, and background investigation), and are initially appointed on a contractual basis with ranks determined by evaluation criteria; after one year of satisfactory service, a recommendation for regular appointment may be made.
Civilian faculty members primarily instruct cadets but may also be assigned collateral duties such as researchers, speechwriters, academic advisers, administrative officers, or other similar duties as needed.
Performance is evaluated every term through a composite rating from cadets, peers, and department heads. Outstanding ratings receive recognition, while two consecutive unsatisfactory ratings may lead to termination or sanctions after due process.
Faculty may be promoted if they meet the points required for the next higher rank, have at least very satisfactory performance ratings for the last two rating periods, earn a minimum of 8.0 points in the Department Head's Assessment Potential, and 60 points in the Interview Assessment of Personality Traits and Characteristics.
It governs the salaries and salary grades for civilian faculty ranks, helping ensure fair and equitable compensation in line with updated salary standards.
Civilian faculty members who satisfy an aggregate minimum instructional load of 30 units per academic year are entitled to an Instructor's Incentive Pay of up to 25% of their monthly salary.
No civilian faculty member shall be suspended or dismissed except for cause provided by law and after due process, with applicable provisions from the Faculty Manual, relevant command rules, and Civil Service Law.
Civilian faculty members without the requisite master's degree at the time of effectivity of this order are given five years to comply with the requirement.
The adjustments are initially sourced from agency savings and subsequently included in the agency appropriations.