Leadership and Functional Structure of the Ministry
- The Minister of Foreign Affairs is appointed by the President and holds authority to exercise the Ministry’s powers and functions.
- The Minister is assisted by Deputy Ministers, whose responsibilities are assigned by the Minister.
- No Deputy Minister is designated solely for administration; administrative tasks are additional to substantive roles.
Office of Inspection, Intelligence and Legal Services
- Created by merging functions of abolished Office of Legal Affairs, Inspection Division, and Intelligence and Research Division.
- Responsible for periodic inspections to maintain high performance standards across foreign service posts.
- Enforces strict security measures within the Ministry and Foreign Service.
- Provides legal services for treaty negotiation and interpretation.
- Head of this Office serves as Inspector General.
Office of Personnel and Management Services
- Handles efficient management of personnel services for the Ministry and Foreign Service.
Office of Public Affairs
- Formerly Office of Press and Public Affairs; manages relations with local and foreign media and educational institutions.
- Disseminates relevant information regularly to foreign service posts.
Office of Fiscal Services
- Formerly Office of Fiscal Affairs; manages all budget, financial, and accounting services of the Ministry and Foreign Service.
Office of Consular Services
- Formerly Office of Consular Affairs; manages passport, visa, and notarization services.
- Provides assistance to Filipino citizens abroad.
Office of Protocol
- Retained to handle protocol, ceremonials, and social activities of the Ministry.
- Ensures compliance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations and related agreements.
Geographic Offices of Foreign Affairs
- Created Offices dedicated to American, Asian and Pacific, European, Middle East and African, and ASEAN Affairs.
- Each Office supports the Minister with supervision, monitoring, and policy guidance on diplomatic missions within their geographic scope.
- Responsible for aggregative analysis of political, economic, and cultural issues.
- Handles relationships with foreign diplomatic missions from their respective regions.
- ASEAN Office additionally serves as secretariat and coordinator for Philippine participation in ASEAN meetings.
- Sub-regional desks within these offices may be created as needed.
Office of United Nations and International Organizations
- Retained to support and provide policy guidance for Philippine activities in the UN, its specialized agencies, and other inter-governmental organizations (excluding ASEAN).
- Acts as secretariat for Philippine National Commissions and Councils related to United Nations commitments.
Board of Foreign Service Administration
- Composed of the Minister (Chairman), Deputy Ministers, heads of Offices, and a Civil Service Commission senior official.
- May delegate chairmanship to a Deputy Minister.
- Recommends policies for efficient administration of the Ministry and Foreign Service.
- Handles personnel matters including appointment, assignment, and promotion recommendations for Foreign Service staff and officers.
- Addresses administrative cases involving Ministry personnel.
Board of Foreign Service Examiners
- Retained for planning and administering the Career Foreign Service Examinations.
- Membership includes Chairman or Commissioner of Civil Service Commission, designate Deputy Minister(s), Head of Personnel and Management Services, and a senior official from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Special Advisers and Advisory Committees
- Minister may designate Special Advisers, such as Chiefs of Missions on home assignment, for expertise-specific support.
- Advisory boards and committees may be created to assist in policy formulation.
Supervision and Control of Ministry Offices
- Ministry supervises Offices for Asian and Pacific Affairs, Middle East and African Affairs, American Affairs, European Affairs, ASEAN Affairs, United Nations and International Organizations, Protocol, Inspection, Intelligence and Legal Services, Personnel and Management Services, Public Affairs, Fiscal Services, Consular Services, and the Board of Foreign Service Administration.
Administrative Supervision over Related Entities
- Ministry exercises administrative supervision over Foreign Service Institute, UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, Committee on State Visits, Technical Assistance Council, and Board of Foreign Service Examiners.
Abolished Units and Transfer of Functions
- Office of Administration, Legal Affairs, Policy Planning, Cultural Affairs, Economic Affairs, Islamic Affairs, Political Affairs, ASEAN National Coordinating Agency, Board of Foreign Service, Promotion Board, Inspection Division, and Intelligence and Research Division are abolished.
- Their functions, resources, and personnel are transferred to appropriate Ministry units as determined by the Minister.
Diplomatic Missions Abroad
- Ministry has authority to maintain necessary diplomatic missions and establishments abroad under the supervision of the Minister.
Rulemaking Authority
- Ministry may issue implementing rules and regulations to effectuate provisions of the Executive Order.
- Approval from the Office of Budget and Management is required for changes to staffing patterns, salary rates, divisional structures, and appropriation realignment.
Continuity of Personnel in Abolished Units
- Incumbents in abolished units continue their functions pending further implementing orders, unless otherwise directed by the Minister.
Repeal of Inconsistent Laws and Provisions
- Laws, decrees, orders, rules, and parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are repealed or modified accordingly.
Severability Clause
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional, other provisions remain effective provided they can stand independently to fulfill the Order’s objectives.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect thirty days from the signing date on December 1, 1982.