Restructuring the Foreign Service of the Philippines

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Executive Order No. 523

Restructuring the Foreign Service of the Philippines
- Sec. 1: The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall restructure the Ministry and Foreign Service to support national development goals. Each diplomatic mission shall have clearly defined goals and objectives, particularly promoting exports, attracting tourists, and protecting migrant workers' interests. These goals shall be reviewed annually.
- Sec. 2: The Minister shall promulgate rules on recruitment, selection, promotion, assignment, and reassignment of Foreign Service personnel based on education, experience, aptitude, and potential to achieve the goals.
- Sec. 3: Personnel from other government agencies with relevant experience shall be laterally integrated into the Foreign Service.
- Sec. 4: Diplomatic establishments shall be classified as Class I (greater importance) or Class II (lesser importance) based on economic trade interests, Filipino residents, geo-political significance, historical-cultural considerations, and presence of international organizations.
- Sec. 5: Consular establishments shall be classified as Class I or Class II based on trade volume/potential and number of Filipino residents.
- Sec. 6: Staffing of missions and consulates shall be flexible based on workload and classification criteria.
- Sec. 7: Each post shall have only military, labor, revenue, tourism, information, and commercial attaches, except in extraordinary cases. Appointment authority lies with the agency maintaining the attache service, in consultation with the Minister.
- Sec. 8: Each agency shall have only one attache accredited by the receiving government. Additional attaches shall be designated as assistant attaches.
- Sec. 9: Attaches shall be under the administrative supervision and control of the Chief of Mission, submit reports through the Chief of Mission, clear public pronouncements and documents, and be subject to disciplinary action by the Chief of Mission.
- Sec. 10: An Inter-Ministerial Committee shall draft uniform rules and regulations for attache services.
- Sec. 11: A Promotion Board shall be established to promote Foreign Service Officers based on performance, education, training, and potential.
- Sec. 12: Promotion from FSSE I to FSSO III shall be through competitive examinations.
- Sec. 13: Assignment proposals shall consider the area of concern and personnel qualifications. Joint consultation between the Home Office and Chief of Mission is required. Assignments cannot be refused.
- Sec. 14: There shall be periodic and systematic rotation of FSOs and FSS0s every 2 to 6 years. Positions cannot remain vacant for more than 60 days. Clearance from agencies is required for assignments.
- Sec. 15: The Ministry of Budget shall consider budget increase proposals to fund personnel rotation.
- Sec. 16: A system of inspection by the Minister, Minister of Budget, or other designated officials shall be installed to assess mission performance.
- Sec. 17: The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall promulgate implementing rules and regulations.
- Sec. 18: Inconsistent orders, rules, and regulations are repealed or modified.
- Sec. 19: The Order takes effect immediately.