Republic Act No. 1244

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

Paragraph (c), section one, Part B, Title III of Republic Act Numbered Seven hundred eight, otherwise known as the "Foreign Service Act of the Philippines," is amended to read as follows:

"(c) No person shall be eligible for appointment as a Foreign Affairs Officer unless he has passed such competitive examinations as the Board of Foreign Service Examiners may prescribe to determine his fitness and aptitude for the work of the service and has demonstrated his loyalty to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and his attachment to the principles of the Constitution: Provided, However, That any person who has satisfactorily completed the Foreign Service Training Program in the United States Department of State or who has rendered continuous satisfactory service in a position of responsibility in the Department or in the Foreign Service or both for at least five years on the date of the approval of this Act shall be exempted from both the written and oral examinations prescribed in this Act: Provided, further, That the foregoing exemptions shall also be accorded to any person who, having served in a position of responsibility in the department or in the foreign service or both for more than three years but less than five years on said date, shall have completed five years of continuous satisfactory service in such position within two years thereafter: Provided, finally, That any person who has satisfactorily completed the training in the Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Department and has served continuously for at least one year in an advisory capacity or as secretary to a Philippine delegation or mission abroad shall be certified by the Board as eligible for appointment as Foreign Affairs Officer.

"For the purpose of this Act, the phrase "position of responsibility shall mean the position of assistant, analyst, or attorney, or any other position of a higher designation."

Section 2

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 10, 1955.