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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SEP 18 P4 :04 
SENt11 
s, No. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act 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 IV. 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 111, 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. Republic Act No. 7157 intends to treat all successful examinees equally, 
regardless of when they accept their initial appointments. 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 the Service immediately after being 
offered appointment.' 
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• MIRIAM DEF~SOR S ~ 
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• This bill was originally filed during the Thitteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN.AIJ; ~ 
S. No. 1/1 \:) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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SEP 18 P 4 :04 
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- AN ACT 
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AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7157, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE 
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FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1991," TITLE Ill, SECTION 30, BY DELETING THE 
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REQUIREMENT OF CONFIRMATION BY THE COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS OF 
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FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS WHO JOIN THE FOREIGN SERVICE THROUGH 
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LATERAL ENTRY 
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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 sllccessfully 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 fi'om initial offer of appointment and his request for 
lateral entry in the Career Foreign Service Corps shall not exceed more than six 
years; 
(b) He has very sati~factorily served another government 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; 
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(E) 
HIS 
REAPPOINtMENT 
SHALL 
NOT 
REQUIRE 
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CONFIRMATION BY THE COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS (CA)." 
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SECTION 2. Effect upon Lateral Entrants. - The reappointJ;nent of successful examinees 
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who opted for lateral entry prior to the effectivity of this Act shall not require confirmation by 
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the Commission on Appointments. 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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