REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

BOARD OF FOREIGN SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

A N N O U N C E M E N T

The Board of Foreign Service Examinations, pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign Service Act (R.A. 7157) of 1991 and the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, announces the holding of the 2013 FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER (FSO) EXAMINATIONS to recruit candidates for appointment to the position of Foreign Service Officer, Class IV.

Applicants for the examination must be knowledgeable on the economic, political and social conditions of the Philippines, and must possess not only facility in oral and written communications, but also the personality traits essential to the performance of the duties of Foreign Service Officers. They must also be willing and able to accept assignments to any post where their services may be required.

Applicants are advised to check the eligibility requirements to ensure that they meet the said admission requirements. No exemptions from the requirements shall be considered. Applicants who are found ineligible, or who have submitted incomplete application forms and requirements, shall not be allowed to take the examination, and their admission fees shall be forfeited.

DUTIES OF A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER

The duties of a Foreign Service Officer include: gathering information, analyzing and reporting political, economic, technological, cultural and other events and developments; drafting diplomatic notes and other forms of diplomatic correspondence; preparing briefing papers and other foreign policy papers for the Department and other offices of government as may be required; assisting in the preparation and conduct of international conferences; managing and supervising staff; disseminating information; working with other government agencies and private groups and individuals in promoting Philippine interests abroad; undertaking negotiations; assisting Filipinos abroad and protecting their rights; promoting Philippine culture and trade;bringing in foreign investments and promoting tourism to the Philippines; performing consular functions; and representing the Philippines in various international fora.

FSO EXAMINATIONS

The 2013 FSO Examinations is composed of five (5) parts:

(1) Qualifying Test;

(2) Preliminary Interview;

(3) Written Test;

(4) Oral Test; and

(5) Psychological Test;

I. Qualifying Test – 10 March 2013

The Qualifying Test covers (1) English grammar and correct usage; (2) reading comprehension; (3) logical reasoning; (4) quantitative reasoning/data interpretation; and (5) leadership/ knowledge of management concepts.

The testing centers for the Qualifying Test are in Bacolod City, Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Davao City, Iloilo City, General Santos City, Legazpi City, Lucena City, Metro Manila, San Fernando City (La Union), San Fernando City (Pampanga), Tacloban City, and Zamboanga City.

Candidates must obtain a passing grade of at least 80% in the Qualifying Test in order to qualify for the Preliminary Interview.

II. Preliminary Interview – 06 April 2013 (tentative)

The Preliminary Interview shall be held after the results of the Qualifying Test have been determined. Candidates shall be interviewed by a panel of Foreign Service Officers to evaluate their overall potential for becoming Foreign Service Officers and future Ambassadors.

The Preliminary Interview shall be held in Metro Manila. However, the Board reserves the right to conduct the Preliminary Interview outside Metro Manila depending on the number of qualified candidates.

Candidates must obtain an overall rating of "PASS" from the panel in order to qualify for the Written Test.

III. Written Test – 10, 11, & 12 April 2012 (tentative)

The Written Test covers the following six subjects with the corresponding weights:

1. English 20%

2. Filipino 5%

3. Philippine Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Conditions - Philippine history, culture, foreign policy, geography, government, development issues and goals 30%

4. International Affairs - Theory and practice of international economics and trade, international politics, international law and treaties 30%

5. World History 10%

6. Foreign Language - Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish 5%

The testing center for the Written Test is the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila. However, the Board reserves the right to also conduct the Written Test outside Metro Manila depending on the number of qualified candidates.

Candidates must obtain a passing grade of at least 75% in the Written Test in order to qualify for the Oral Test.

IV. Psychological Test (To be announced)

The Psychological Test shall be held in Manila after the results of the Oral Test have been determined.

Candidates shall be evaluated and certified as having passed the Psychological Test based on the results of their test.

V. Oral Test (To be announced)

The Oral Test shall be held in Manila after the results of the Written Test shall have been determined. The Oral Test shall include an assessment of the candidate's oral skills, logical thinking, values and attitude. Previous records, experiences and conduct of examinees shall also be considered in determining the candidate's fitness and aptitude for foreign service work.

Candidates who obtain a transmuted score of at least 80% shall be deemed to have passed the Oral Test. A candidate must garner a composite rating of 80% or above in the Written Test and Oral Test in order to pass the FSO Examination.

Applicants are required to pass the five (5) sequential parts of the entire FSO Examination all within the prescribed time frame in order to be considered eligible for appointment to the position of Foreign Service Officer, Class IV. Any applicant who passes the Qualifying Test shall no longer be allowed to defer any of the succeeding portions of the FSO Examination. Moreover, an applicant who fails to show up for or does not take the succeeding phase of the FSO Examination as scheduled shall be deemed to have failed the entire examination.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Applicants shall meet the following requirements:

1. Citizenship - Applicants should be natural-born Filipino citizens and concurrently permanent residents of the Philippines. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 9225 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, those who pass the FSO Examinations with more than one citizenship, shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities, and renounce their oath of allegiance to any other country, prior to assumption of office.

2. Age - Applicants should not be more than thirty-five (35) years of age on the day of the Qualifying Test or on 10 March 2013. The maximum age limit, however, do not apply to those who have been employed in the Department of Foreign Affairs or Foreign Service Institute for at least two years prior to the date of the FSO Qualifying Examinations and who meet the other qualifications required of candidates for the examination.

3. Education - Applicants should have at least graduated from a four (4) year bachelor's degree course or higher on or before the prescribed due date of submission of requirements, and shall present the transcript of records, and either the diploma, certificate of graduation or its equivalent, from a college or university of recognized standing.

4. Work Experience or Further Studies – Applicants should have undergone employment or undertaken further studies after graduating from college or university (preferably at least two years).

HOW TO APPLY

1. Application forms may be obtained in the following means:

Application forms may be obtained in the following means:

a. Downloaded from the DFA website (www.dfa.gov.ph);

b. Personally secured from the Main Office, Regional Consular Offices (RCO) of the DFA, or Philippine Embassies/Consulates abroad;

2. Application forms shall be duly accomplished by the applicants and submitted in person from 12 December 2012 until 25 January 2013 at any Regional Consular Office or at Philippine Embassies or Consulates abroad, and not later than 31 January 2013 until 5:00 p.m. only at the Board of Foreign Service Examinations (BFSE) Secretariat, 2nd Floor, DFA Main Building, 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. Applications shall no longer be accepted beyond the set deadlines.

3. The following shall be attached to the completed application forms:

a. Certified True Copy (CTC) of transcript of records from the college or university from which the degree was obtained, bearing the seal of the college or university. Applicants who attended post-graduate schools shall submit a copy of their transcript of records certified as true copy by said school, in addition to their college or university records. Transcript of records obtained from a foreign school shall be certified as true copy by the foreign school, with English translation, or duly authenticated by a Philippine Foreign Service Post which jurisdiction covers said foreign school;

b. Certified True Copy (CTC) of diploma or certificate of graduation from the college or university from which the degree was obtained, bearing the seal of the college or university. Applicants who attended post-graduate schools shall submit a copy of their diploma or certificate of graduation certified as true copy by said school, in addition to their college diploma. Diplomas or certificates of graduation obtained from a foreign school shall be certified as true copy by the foreign school, with English translation, or duly authenticated by a Philippine Foreign Service Post which jurisdiction covers said foreign school;

c. Proof of past or present employment or further studies.

d. Original birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office

• For those born abroad: Report of Birth at Post may be submitted in case no birth record is available at National Statistics Office (NSO). The Report of Birth shall be duly authenticated by the issuing Post. A certification of non-availability of said birth certificate from the NSO shall be submitted along with the Report of Birth.
• For a Filipino citizen who has dual or multiple citizenships: a notarized affidavit stating that upon passing the examination, he/she intends to renounce his/her oath of allegiance to his/her other countries of citizenship; he/she must also submit a notarized affidavit stating that he/she is a permanent resident in the Philippines.

e. For married applicants: a Certified True Copy (CTC) of marriage contract from the National Statistics Office. If married to a foreigner, he/she must secure from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, through the Board of Foreign Service Examinations, authority to take the FSO Examinations.

f. Eight (8) pieces 1-1/2in. x 2in. black and white or color studio-taken photographs, taken within six (6) months before the date of the examination, showing the full frontal view of the face of the applicant with a name tag (i.e. Juan M. dela Cruz, Jr.) (photocopied, scanned and digitally enhanced pictures shall not be accepted); and

g. Two (2) self-addressed and self–stamped envelopes marked as priority mail.

Applications with incomplete documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

A non-refundable admission fee of five hundred pesos (P500.00) shall be collected from those who shall take the 2013 Qualifying Test upon initial inspection and acceptance of their application.

LIST OF DFA OFFICES