EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 540
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 540 -
PROVIDING FOR A PHILIPPINE FOREIGN TRADE SERVICE CORPS IN THE MINISTRY
OF TRADE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS,
it is the policy and objective of the Philippine Government to
encourage the growth of markets for Philippine products abroad;
WHEREAS, the task of a foreign trade service differs in focus from that
of the general run of a diplomatic service in that the mission of the
foreign trade service, particularly for a developing country, is to get
more of its exports sold to the rest of the world, while the usual
mission of its diplomatic service is to get the country esteemed
abroad; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 523 prescribes guidelines in the
restructuring of the Foreign Service of the Philippines and in
particular the definition of goals and objectives of diplomatic
missions abroad on the promotion and expansion of Philippine exports,
the attraction of foreign tourists to visit the Philippines and the
promotion of investments in Philippine enterprises;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President and Prime Minister of
the Philippines, do hereby order the following:
Section 1. Foreign Trade Service Corps. — There shall
be a Foreign Trade Service Corps in the Ministry of Trade, which shall
be career in nature and where the appointments shall be made in the
manner prescribed in this Order.
Sec. 2. Functions and Duties. — The Corps shall
have the following duties and functions:
a)
Explore and develop the potentials of Philippine products in different
export markets.
b) Extend to
Philippine businessmen, producers and exporters, assistance in
establishing business connections with importers and the business
communities of different export markets.
c) Monitor the
commercial, industrial, and general economic conditions, as well as
non-economic conditions, affecting Philippine products in the various
export markets.
d) Encourage
the inflow of foreign investments into priority investment areas of the
Philippine Government.
e) Make
representation for the reduction and/or elimination of tariff and
non-tariff barriers, affecting the entry of Philippine products of a
particular export market.
f) Participate
in such international forum having to do with international trade and
trade policies.
g) Facilitate
the export of Philippine products in particular markets
abroad.
Sec. 3. Foreign Trade Service Board. — There is
hereby created a Foreign Trade Service Board, hereinafter referred to
as the Board, to be composed of the Deputy Minister of Trade as
Chairman, a representative from the Civil Service Commission to be
designated by the Chairman and the Director-General for Administration
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as members.
Sec. 4. Functions of the Board. — The Board shall
have the following functions.
a) Prescribe and implement such guidelines for the
recruitment of Foreign Trade Service Officers, including the receipt
and certification of applications for the foreign trade examinations
based on the qualifications provided herein, and the preparation,
conduct and grading of written, oral and such other examinations as may
be required;
b) Recommend the appointment and promotion of
competent qualified persons in the Foreign Trade Service Corps;
c) Evaluate the performance of members of the Corps,
according to set standards; and
d) Prescribe such policies and procedures to govern
the administration, career development and personnel management of the
Corps.
Sec. 5. Categories of Personnel. — The Foreign
Trade Serviced Corps shall be composed of the following categories of
personnel:
Class
Designation
Grades
I
Special Trade Representative
II
Trade Service Officer 1, 2, 3, 4
III
Trade Service Staff Officer 1, 2, 3
The basis for classification of the Foreign Trade Service Officers in
the foregoing categories shall be according to guidelines that shall be
prescribed by the Board and approved by the Civil Service Commission.
Sec. 6. Salaries and Other Compensation. — The
salary and compensation scheme for the Foreign Trade Service Corps
shall be equivalent to the rates fixed Foreign Service personnel under
PD 905 and Letter of Implementation 63 and such other orders and rules
applicable to the Foreign Service, provided, that the assimilated ranks
of the Corps shall be as follows:
Designation Assimilated Ranks
Class I
Special Trade Representative Career Counselor
Class II
Trade Service Officer 1 Foreign Service Officer,
Class I
Trade Service Officer 2 Foreign Service Officer,
Class II
Trade Service Officer 3 Foreign Service Officer,
Class III
Trade Service Officer 4
Foreign Service Officer,
Class IV
Class III
Trade Service Staff Officer 1 Foreign
Service Staff
Officer I
Trade Service Staff Officer 2 Foreign Service Staff
Officer II
Trade Service Staff Officer 3 Foreign
Service Staff
Officer III
Provided, further, that the assimilated rank of the Foreign Trade
Service Officers shall confer upon said officers the corresponding
diplomatic rank for purposes of protocol, and, provided finally, that
no members of the Foreign Trade Service Corps shall serve as acting
principal officer of any consulate, consulate general or embassy, or
precede in rank any Foreign Service Officer performing such functions
irrespective of their respective rank.
Sec. 7. Admission into the Corps. — No person
shall be eligible for appointment as a Foreign Trade Service Officer
unless he possesses the required qualifications specified
herein.
Sec. 8. Qualifications for Admission into the
Foreign Trade Service Corps. — Any person is eligible for appointment
into the Foreign Trade Service Corps provided that he has the following
qualifications:
a)
A citizen of the Philippines, who is not less than 21 years and not
more than 35 years, of age;
b) Holder of a
Bachelor’s degree from a College or University of recognized standing,
at least;
c) Willing and
physically able to accept assignments anywhere in the world;
d)
Knowledgeable in the cultural, political, and economic realities of the
Philippines; and
e) Possesses
the required eligibility, prescribed by the Civil Service Commission.
Provided, that any person who, prior to the approval of this Order, is
already performing official commercial representation abroad, shall be
considered eligible for admission into the Corps subject to such rules
and regulations promulgated by the Board.
Sec. 9. Appointments and Promotions. — The
Minister shall recommend to the President upon Certification of the
Board, appointments to the positions of Special Trade Representative
and Trade Service Officer. All other officers of the Corps shall be
appointed by the Minister of Trade, upon recommendation of the Board.
Sec. 10. Assignment Abroad of Members of the
Foreign Trade Service Corps. — Assignment abroad of members of the
Foreign Trade Service Corps shall be made by the Minister of Trade with
the concurrence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and shall be based
on the qualifications of the officer to be assigned and such criteria
as volume of trade potential, presence of international organization,
availability of export financing, center for technology transfer,
transshipment center, trade policy center, new export market and a
center for strategic imports; Provided, that the said officer shall
serve in a post of assignment for a period of not less than two years
and more than six years.
Whenever a Foreign Trade Service Officer is given an assignment abroad,
he shall be given the appropriate designation by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to enable him to perform his duties and functions
effectively, provided, that while they are abroad, they shall be under
the supervision of the Head of Mission as provided under Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Order No. 22-68 and Ministry of Trade Administrative
Order No. 2.
Sec. 11. Supplementary Rules and Regulations. —
The Minister, with the approval of the President/Prime Minister, shall
issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Order.
Sec. 12. Repeal Clause. — All Acts, Decrees,
Executive Orders, rules and regulations or part thereof which are
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Order are hereby
repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Order shall
take effect immediately.
DONE in the City of Manila,
this 19th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-nine.
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Since 19.07.98.