\ ’  
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPW3LlC 
OF THE PHILlPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
R.A. No. 7157, also known as “The Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991,” provides 
for three ( 3 )  ways of joining the Foreign Service after passing the examinations-for 
Foreign 
Service Officer (FSO), Class N. 
These are: immediate assumption of post, deferment for one 
year from offer of initial appointment, and “lateral entrance” which means deferment for more 
than one year but not exceeding six years. 
The first two methods do not ‘need confirmation by the Commission on Appointments 
(CA). The third method does, for Title III, Section 30 (c) of the law requires the CA to confirm a 
lateral entrant’s initial appointment. 
. 
This bill repeals Sec. 30 (c) because the requirement of “CA confirmation” violates the 
equal protection clause. R.A. No. 7157 intends to treat all successhl examinees equally, 
regardless of when they accept their initial appoinhnents. Sections 14 and 30 (d) of the law 
reveal this intent. Section 14 states that the President of the Republic of the Philippines shall 
appoint those who pass the examinations for FSO, Class IV, without the consent of the 
Commission on Appointments. Section 30(d) provides that a lateral entrant shall occupy a rank 
equal to that of his successful co-examinees who joined 
offered appointment. 
the Service immediately after being 


5 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T  
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7157, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE 
FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1991,” TITLE m, 
SEC. 30 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 7157, also known as “The Philippine Foreign Service Act 
of 1991,” Title III, Section 30, is amended to read as follows: 
“Sec. 30. Lateral Entry- Lateral entry into the Career Foreign Service 
Corps shall be permitted for those individuals who have successfully passed the 
written and oral examinations conducted by the Board of Foreign Service 
Examinations but at the time when offered an appointment as foreign service 
officer, Class IV, decided to join another government agency, Provided, however, 
that: 
(a) The duration from initial offer of appointment and his request for 
lateral entry in the Career Foreign Service Corps shall not exceed more than six 
years; 
(b) H e has very s atisfactorily s erved another g ovemment agency for the 
same duration; 
(c) His reappointment shall be confirmed by the Commission on 
Appointments; and 
(d) The rank to which he is being reappointed shall not be higher than that 
of his successful co-examinees who have joined the Service immediately after 
being offered the appointment, AND 


(E) HIS REAPPOINTMENT SHALL NOT REQUIRE CONFIRMATION 
BY THE COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS (CA).” 
SECTION 2. Effect upon lateral entrants. - 
The reappointment of successful examinees 
who opted for lateral entry prior to the effectivity of this Act shall not require confirmation by 
the Commission on Appointments. 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - 
If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days aRer its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of genera1 circulation. 
Approved. 
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