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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2983 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
PREFERENTIAL 
APPOINTMENT 
TO 
APPOINTIVE 
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES HOLDING VALID APPOINTMENTS TO 
THE NEW POSITIONS IN THE APPROVED STAFFING PATTERN 
FOLLOWING A GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE, SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6656 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 4 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 6656 or an “Act to Protect the Security 
of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and Employees in the Implementation of 
Government Reorganization” provides preference to government personnel with 
permanent appointments during placement into positions under a new staffing 
pattern resulting from a legitimate reorganization. It prohibits new hiring until all 
qualified permanent, temporary, and casual employees have been placed, except for 
policy-determining, confidential, or highly technical positions. 
This bill seeks to amend Section 4 to require agencies to prioritize the 
placement of existing personnel within the reorganized structure, allowing 
movement not only to comparable positions but also to next higher or, when 
necessary, next lower-ranked position, provided that security of tenure is 
safeguarded. 
August 4, 2025
5:00 pm


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This bill aims to retain appointive officials and employees with valid 
appointments who are already familiar with government operations, policies, and 
procedures. Their continued service ensures continuity, efficiency, and the 
preservation of institutional knowledge during government reorganizations. 
This measure was also filed during the 19th Congress and was primarily 
referred to the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, where it 
was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
ANDREW JULIAN K.  ROMUALDEZ 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2983 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
PREFERENTIAL 
APPOINTMENT 
TO 
APPOINTIVE 
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES HOLDING VALID APPOINTMENTS TO 
THE NEW POSITIONS IN THE APPROVED STAFFING PATTERN 
FOLLOWING A GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION, AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE, SECTION 4 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6656 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6656, entitled, “An Act 
to Protect the Security of Tenure of Civil Service Officers and Employees in the 
Implementation of Government Reorganization”, is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“Section 4. APPOINTIVE officers and employees holding [permanent] 
VALID appointments shall be given preference for appointment to the new 
positions in the approved staffing pattern OF comparable RANK to their former 


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OR THE NEXT HIGHER RANK position. In case there are not enough 
comparable POSITIONS OR POSITIONS NEXT HIGHER IN RANK, THEY 
SHALL BE GIVEN PREFERENCE TO APPOINTMENT to positions next 
lower in rank: PROVIDED, THAT PLACEMENT SHALL BE MADE IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE REVISED IMPLEMENTING RULES AND 
REGULATIONS OF THIS ACT. 
 
No new employees shall be taken in until all permanent officers and 
employees have been appointed, including temporary and casual employees who 
possess the necessary qualification requirements, among which is the appropriate 
civil service eligibility, for permanent appointment to positions in the approved 
staffing pattern, in case there are still positions to be filled, unless such positions are 
policy-determining, primarily confidential, or highly technical in nature.” 
 
SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Civil Service 
Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this 
Act. 
 
SEC. 3. All laws, rules, regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,