WHEREAS, the importance of the Foreign Service as the major instrument of the Government in the protection and advancement of the country's interest abroad has greatly-increased, especially at this time when the government is particularly engaged in development diplomacy;

WHEREAS, it is necessary that personnel of the Foreign Service be provided with adequate financial means to be able to represent the country not only effectively but also in a manner worthy of the esteem and respect of the country to which they are accredited;

WHEREAS, the tremendous rise in the cost of living resulting from the worldwide economic inflation and the recent energy crisis has considerably reduced the value of the present salaries of Foreign Service personnel;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree as follows:

SECTION 1. The provisions of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs shall be classified according to the following schedule of classes and rates:

Chief of Mission, Class I		P37.344
	Class II	35,532
Career Minister		27,732
Senior Foreign Affairs Adviser		27,732
Foreign Service Officer, Class I		23,892
		22,728
		21,624
Foreign Affairs Adviser		20,580
Foreign Service Officer, Class II		20,580
		19,584
		18,636
Foreign Service Officer, Class III		17,724
		16,860
		16,044
Foreign Service Officer, Class IV		15,234
		14,532
		18,824
Foreign Service Staff Officer I		13,824
		13,152
		12,516
Foreign Service Staff Officer II		12,516
		11,904
		11,328
Foreign Service Staff Service III		10,776
		10,260
		9,756
Foreign Service Staff Employee I		9,288
		8,832
		8,400
Foreign Service Staff Employee II		7,992
		7,608
		7,236
Foreign Service Staff Employee III		6,240
		5,928
		5,640

 

SEC. 2. Positions not falling under the above classes will also be subject to the existing WAPCO Classification and Pay Plans.

SEC. 3. These salary increases shall be implemented in accordance with a timetable and such rules and regulations as may be approved by the President.

Done in the City of Manila this 18th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-six.