Objectives of the Act
- Reorganize and strengthen the Philippine Foreign Service.
- Upgrade qualifications of Career Foreign Service Corps officers and employees.
- Strengthen analytical capabilities for guiding foreign policy.
- Ensure broad societal representation and equal opportunity within the Foreign Service.
- Improve selection and training processes to recruit competent and morally upright personnel.
- Base promotions on merit.
- Guarantee security of tenure during good behavior and satisfactory performance.
- Provide suitable salaries, allowances, and benefits attracting diverse talents.
- Appoint highest positions on merit basis promoting national interests.
- Establish a comprehensive and flexible administration framework consistent with modern practices.
- Consolidate existing laws relating to Foreign Service administration.
- Enforce non-discrimination based on sex, creed, language, ethnic identity, and religion.
Definitions
- "Government" refers to the Government of the Philippines.
- "Constitution" refers to the 1987 Constitution.
- "President" refers to the President of the Philippines.
- "Department" means the Department of Foreign Affairs.
- "Institute" means the Foreign Service Institute.
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
- "Undersecretary" means the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.
- "Government agency" includes executive branches or government-controlled corporations.
- "Service" covers all officers and employees of the Department in home office and foreign posts.
- "Home office" refers to the Department and its offices in the Philippines.
- "Post" includes embassies, missions, consulates general, and other foreign service establishments.
- "Chief of mission" is the head of diplomatic missions, appointed by the President.
- "Principal officer" is head of consulates or consulates general.
Structure of the Department
- The President appoints three Undersecretaries to advise and assist the Secretary in objectives, policies, and operations.
- One Undersecretary acts as Secretary during the Secretary’s absence.
Categories of Foreign Service Personnel
- Chiefs of Mission (Classes 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.
- Honorary Consuls.
Foreign Service Officer Designations
- Officers commissioned as diplomatic or consular officers (or both).
- Titles coterminous with post assignments.
- Chiefs of mission assigned as ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary or as consuls general/deputy heads.
- Assignment ranks correspond to classes (e.g., Class I as first secretary, Class IV as third secretary/vice-consul).
Foreign Service Officer Designations in the Home Office
- Chiefs of mission may be assistant secretaries heading principal Department offices.
- Principal offices include American Affairs, Asia-Pacific, European Affairs, Middle East and African Affairs, Administration, Fiscal Management, ASEAN, UN and International Organizations, Consular, Legal Affairs, and Policy Planning.
- Career ministers may serve as executive directors; foreign service officers classes I-IV may serve as division or assistant division directors.
- Assignments higher than actual rank are acting.
Foreign Service Staff Corps
- Provides technical assistance and support in home office and foreign service.
Staffing Patterns and Appointments
- Permanent staffing patterns are maintained with approved budgeted items.
- Appointments must conform strictly to vacant budget items.
- Unauthorized appointments beyond budgeted positions are void.
Establishment of Foreign Posts
- Posts established primarily based on national interest and security.
- Prioritization for countries with diplomatic, financial, humanitarian support, favorable trade relations, significant Filipino communities, and reciprocity.
- Secretary defines consular territorial jurisdiction.
Promotion of Philippine Arts and Culture Abroad
- Foreign service establishments abroad promote Philippine arts, culture, and products.
- Official use and exhibition of Filipino artwork and literature mandatory.
- Gifts at official/social functions sourced from the Philippines.
- Secretary to provide budget for acquisition and display.
Appointments - Foreign Service Officers
- Entry through open competitive exams.
- Appointment limited to candidates who passed the exam and demonstrated loyalty to the Philippines.
- Initial appointments to the lowest rank, Foreign Service Officer Class IV.
- Declined appointments require re-examination.
- Post-appointment internship: one year—six months classroom training, six months on-the-job.
Ambassadorial and Diplomatic Missions
- President nominates and appoints ambassadors with Commission on Appointments consent.
- Ambassadorial appointments are post-specific.
- Career officers appointed as ambassadors retain prior rank items but are not promoted during tour.
- Majority of missions to be headed by career ambassadors.
Reinstatement Procedures
- Former foreign service officers separated by appointment/election or international mission duties may be reappointed upon recommendation.
- Reappointments subject to confirmation and limited to once.
Foreign Service Staff Appointments
- Appointed per Civil Service rules.
- Recruitment through examination for staff officers.
- Civil service eligibility required.
General Appointment Provisions
- Only Philippine citizens and permanent residents eligible for permanent career appointments.
- Requirement to relinquish foreign permanent residency for one year if applicable.
- Audit and payment of salaries strictly conditioned on valid appointments.
- Officers to retire compulsorily upon age 65; exceptions for certain appointees until 1992.
- Non-career officers serving beyond 65 not entitled to retirement benefits.
Alien or Locally Hired Employees
- Appointed by chiefs of mission or principal officers with preference to Filipinos.
- Transfers limited to within the country of original appointment.
Honorary Consuls
- Appointed in areas lacking diplomatic missions.
- May be private citizens, preferably Filipinos.
- Serve consular functions non-career basis without fixed salaries.
Promotions - Foreign Service Officers
- Promotion lists prepared based on Board recommendations.
- Minimum three years of satisfactory service per class required.
- Exception for exceptional service permitting faster promotion.
- Promotion exams required before appointment to career minister.
- Seniority determined by dates of appointment.
- Lateral entry permitted under conditions including prior examination success, service duration, and confirmation.
Promotions - Staff Officers and Employees
- Promotion lists based on performance and recommendations.
- Two years satisfactory service per class prerequisite.
- Senior staff officers eligible for salary upgrades after extended service and ratings.
Performance Evaluation and Promotion Legality
- A performance evaluation system is prescribed to weed out incompetent personnel.
- Promotions violating Act provisions are null and void.
- Unauthorized salaries and allowances must be refunded.
Assignments and Transfer
- Career Foreign Service members must serve three years in home office including familiarization before foreign post assignment.
- Six-year tour of duty abroad standard with rotation plans.
- No consecutive posting at same post without service elsewhere.
- Recalled for unsatisfactory performance.
- Home office service not to exceed three years except for top posts.
- Security clearance required from government agencies for recruits.
Service Attaches and Representatives
- Secretary designates attaches from ranks within foreign service.
- Inter-agency clearance prior to assignment.
- Only one service attaché per department per post, exceptions apply.
- Chiefs of mission exercise control over attaches.
- Reporting and official communications managed through chief of mission.
- Inter-departmental Committee established to ensure uniformity and assess performance.
Board of Foreign Service Examinations
- Composed of Undersecretary, Head of Personnel, Civil Service Commissioner, and Director of Foreign Service Institute.
- Conducts Foreign Service Officer exams; certifies qualified candidates.
- Sets academic and practical requirements.
- Open to citizens, below age 36, bachelor’s degree holders.
- Special provisions for persons in the Department with responsibilities.
Board of Foreign Service Administration
- Composed of Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries including Institute Director.
- Oversees selection, promotions, discipline, and separations.
- Must maintain efficiency ratings and seniority rosters.
- Prohibits members from intervening in cases affecting themselves or relatives.
- Disqualifies officers with pending cases, insufficient service length, low ratings, or political interference.
- Disciplinary actions per Civil Service rules with proper due process.
Grounds for Separation
- Voluntary resignation.
- Disloyalty, misconduct, corruption, and poor performance.
- Unsatisfactory performance for three consecutive years.
- Refusal of assignment or recall without valid reason.
- Locally hired employees separable by chiefs of mission per local laws.
- Honorary consuls separable by Secretary.
Foreign Service Institute
- Board includes Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Civil Service Chairman, University of the Philippines President, Development Academy President, and Institute Director.
- Provides training, research, and professionalization programs.
- Maintains Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies.
- Prime consultant on foreign policy and development management.
- Director is senior career chief of mission with Assistant Secretary rank.
- Submits annual performance reports.
Foreign Information Council
- Composed of Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Trade and Industry, Tourism, Labor and Office of the Press Secretary.
- Pr