Article 22p. 22

ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND LAW OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TEXT AND RULES

Affairs

and

Development

shall

be

responsible

for

conducting programs and activities of the Department in

the fields of international trade, finance and economics;

coordinate with the regional offices and the Office of

United Nations and International Organizations; and, in

coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry,

conduct trade and investment promotion activities of the

Department.

(5) Office of Cultural Affairs and Public Information

Services . — The Office of Cultural Affairs and Public

Information Services shall be responsible for promoting

the cultural and information program of the Government

abroad and for the development and dissemination of

information and the coordination of information activities

on the Government's foreign and domestic policies.

(6) Office of Personnel and Administrative Services . —

The Office of Personnel and Administrative Services shall

be responsible for the efficient management of human

resources and administrative support services, and shall

make

appropriate recommendations, including those

concerning

job

classification,

salary

administration,

benefits, retirement, and awards to deserving members

of the Foreign Service.

(7) Office of Financial Management Services . — The

Office

of

Financial

Management

Services

shall

be

responsible

for

budgetary,

financial

and

accounting

services in the Department and the Foreign Service.

(8)

Office

of

Consular

Services .

— The Office of

Consular Services shall be responsible for the efficient

and effective delivery of passport, visa and authentication

services.

It

shall

also

extend

assistance

to

Filipino

nationals both here and abroad.

SECTION 9. Advisory Boards and Committees . — The

Secretary

may

create

such

advisory

boards

and

committees as he may deem necessary to assist and

provide him with advice in the formulation of policies, as

well as designate as special advisers such Chiefs of

Mission who are on home assignment on specific areas of

their expertise.

CHAPTER 3 Department Services

SECTION 10. Office of the Legal Adviser . — The Office

of the Legal Adviser shall be headed by a Legal Adviser,

who shall be a career Chief of Mission. However, the Legal

Adviser may be appointed by the President, upon the

recommendation

of the Secretary, from outside the

career service, in which case he shall have the assimilated

rank of a Chief of Mission. His term shall be co-terminus

with

the

tenure

of

the

Secretary,

unless

sooner

terminated, and he is not eligible for foreign assignment.

The Legal Adviser shall provide legal advice and services

to the Department.

SECTION

11.

Office

of

Coordination

and

Policy

Planning .

—

The

Office

of Coordination and Policy

Planning shall be headed by the Chief Coordinator. The

Office of Coordination and Policy Planning shall initiate,

coordinate and integrate the planning of foreign policy. It

shall provide staff support to the Office of the Secretary

and perform coordinating and such other functions as

may be prescribed by the Secretary.

SECTION

12.

Office

of

Data

Banking

and

Communication . — The Office of Data Banking and

Communication shall establish and maintain a modern

data and communication center in the Department. The

Office shall:

(1) Assist the Secretary on all matters regarding data

banking and information retrieval;

(2) Establish, develop and maintain a computerized

foreign-relations data bank for the Department;

(3) Establish, develop and maintain both domestic and

foreign

service

communications

systems,

including

efficient flow systems for all correspondence between

and among all Department units;

(4) Establish, develop and maintain the records system

of the entire Department;

(5) Provide technical assistance to any service, office, or

attached agency of the Department, on matters within its

competence; and

(6) Perform such other functions as may be assigned

by the Secretary.

SECTION 13. Office of Protocol, State and Official

Visits . — The Office of Protocol, State and Official Visits

shall coordinate preparations for state visits, the reception

of Chiefs of State, heads of Government, the highest

foreign dignitaries visiting the Philippines, as well as

official visits of Philippine officials abroad, as may be

determined by the President. It shall also be responsible

for handling all activities of the Department concerning

protocol, ceremonials and socials, the proper observance

and

enforcement

of

formalities,

courtesies,

facilities,

immunities and privileges under the Vienna Convention

on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on

Consular Relations, and other applicable conventions and

agreements.

SECTION 14. Office of Intelligence and Security . —

The Office of Intelligence and Security shall adopt a

system of information gathering and analysis, act as

liaison with the intelligence community, and provide

security

services

in

the

Department.

It

shall

also

undertake the enforcement and monitoring of security

procedures

in

the

Department

and

Foreign Service

establishments.

CHAPTER 4 Board of Foreign Service Administration

SECTION 15. Composition . — The Board of Foreign

Service Administration shall be composed of nine (9)

members: one (1) Undersecretary as Chairman; the other

Undersecretary as Vice-Chairman; the six (6) Assistant

Secretaries and the Legal Adviser, as members.

SECTION

16.

Functions .

—

The

Board

shall

be

responsible for considering and recommending policies

for

the

efficient

and

economical

discharge

of

the

Administrative operations of the Department and the

Foreign

Service.

It

shall

also

consider

and

submit

recommendations

on

policy

and

other

matters

concerning

personnel,

including

the

appointment,

promotion

and

assignment

of

Foreign

Service Staff

Officers and Employees, as well as recommend to the

President through the Secretary the appointment and

promotion of Foreign Service Officers, Counselors and

Chiefs

of

Mission.

It

shall

also

act

and

submit

recommendations

on

administrative

cases

involving

personnel of the Department and the Foreign Service.

CHAPTER 5 Board of Foreign Service Examiners

SECTION 17. Composition . — The Board of Foreign

Service

Examiners

shall

be

composed

of

one

(1)

Undersecretary as Chairman; and the Assistant Secretary

for

Personnel

and

Administrative

Services

and

a

Commissioner

of

the

Civil

Service

Commission

as

members. The Board shall be under the administrative

supervision of such Undersecretary.

SECTION

18.

Functions .

—

The

Board

shall

be

responsible for planning and administering the Foreign

Service Officers Examinations and the Foreign Service

Staff

Officers

and

Foreign

Service

Staff

Employees

Examinations.

CHAPTER 6 Attached Agencies

SECTION 19. Attached Agencies . — The Law of the Sea

Secretariat, the Inter-Agency Technical Committee on

Economic,

Scientific

and Technical Cooperation with

Socialist Countries (SOCCOM), the Inter-Agency Technical

Committee on Technical Cooperation Among Developing

Countries

(IATC-TCDC),

the

Permanent

Inter-Agency

Technical Committee on ESCAP Matters (PITCEM), and

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