Executive Order No. 73

MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 73, October 30, 2024 ] PRESCRIBING THE NEW RATES AND INDICES OF OVERSEAS, LIVING QUARTERS, REPRESENTATION, FAMILY, AND EDUCATION ALLOWANCES OF FOREIGN SERVICE PERSONNEL WHEREAS, Section 63 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7157 or the "Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991" establishes a system of allowances for foreign service personnel, including overseas, living quarters, representation, education, and family allowances, among others; WHEREAS, Section 64 of RA No. 7157 further provides that the President shall approve, upon the recommendation of the Secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the rates, indices, maximum allowable amounts, and policies on allowances, which shall be applicable to all national government employees stationed abroad; WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 156 (s. 2013) prescribes the prevailing rates of the overseas, living quarters, family, and representation allowances for foreign service personnel; WHEREAS, Section 11 of EO No. 156 provides that the allowances may be comprehensively reviewed and adjusted every two (2) years by the Secretaries of DFA and DBM, upon approval by the President, to respond to significant changes in the economic climate; WHEREAS, Joint Circular No. 2022-1 (s. 2022) of the DFA and DBM prescribes the policies and guidelines governing the grant of education allowance to the dependents of DFA officers and employees, beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 2021; WHEREAS, the cost of living overseas has changed over time due to significant changes in the global socio-economic landscape; WHEREAS, the government, within the limits of its financial capability, has a duty to ensure that personnel assigned overseas are provided with adequate means to live in a manner that reflects their representative roles, allowing them to effectively represent the country with distinction and dignity; and WHEREAS, in

accordance with Section 64 of RA No. 7157, the DFA and DBM recommended for approval by the President, the new rates and indices of overseas, living quarters, representation, family, and education allowances of foreign service personnel; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby approved the following rates, rules, and regulations in the payment of allowances to personnel of the National Government in the Foreign Service: Section 1. Base Rates of Overseas Allowances. The annual base rates of the Overseas Allowance under EO No. 156 for all Philippine government personnel stationed abroad are hereby adjusted, and will be implemented in four (4) tranches, as follows: RANK Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Chief of Mission I 83,519 97,823 104,976 112,128 116,896 Chief of Mission II 72,625 85,064 91,283 97,502 101,649 Career Minister 63,151 73,968 79,376 84,785 88,390 Foreign Service Officer (FSO) I 54,914 64,320 69,023 73,726 76,861 FSO II 49,921 57,937 61,946 65,954 68,626 FSO III 45,383 52,430 55,953 59,4776 61,825 FSO IV 41,258 47,447 50,541 53,635 55,698 Foreign Service Staff Officer (FSSO) I 41,258 47,447 50,541 53,635 55,698 FSSO II 39,293 45,187 48,134 51,081 53,046 FSSO III 37,422 43,035 45,842 48,649 50,520 FSSO IV 35,640 40,986 43,659 46,332 48,114 Foreign Service Staff Employee (FSSE) I 32,400 37,260 39,690 42,120 43,740 FSSE II 30,857 35,486 37,800 40,114 41,657 FSSE III 29,388 33,796 36,000 38,204 39,674 Section 2. Indices of Overseas Allowances. The Overseas Allowances indices provided under EO No. 156 are hereby adjusted, and the newly opened posts are each assigned an index, as follows: COUNTRY / POST FROM TO Argentina - Buenos Aires Australia - Canberra Australia - Melbourne Australia - Sydney Austria - Vienna Bahrain - Manama Bangladesh - Dhaka Belgium - Brussels Brazil

- Brasilia Brunei - Bendar Sera Begawan Cambodia - Phnom Pehn Canada - Ottawa Canada - Calgary Canada - Toronto Canada - Vancouver Chile - Santiago China - Beijing China - Chongqing China - Guangzhou China - Hong Kong SAR China - Macau China - Shanghai China - Xiamen Colombia - Bogota Czech Republic - Prague Denmark - Copenhagen Egypt - Cairo Finland - Helsinki France - Paris Germany - Berlin Germany - Frankfurt Greece - Athens Hungary - Budapest India - New Delhi Indonesia - Jakarta PE Indonesia - Jakarta PM Indonesia - Manado Iran - Tehran Iraq - Baghdad Ireland - Dublin Israel - Tel Aviv Italy - Rome Italy - Milan Japan - Tokyo Japan - Nagoya Japan - Osaka Jordan - Amman Kenya - Nairobi Kuwait - Kuwait Laos - Vientiane Lebanon - Beirut Libya - Tripoli Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur Mexico - Mexico City Morocco - Rabat Myanmar - Yangon The Netherlands - The Hague New Zealand - Wellington Nigeria - Abuja Norway - Oslo Oman - Muscat Pakistan - Islamabad Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby Poland - Warsaw Portugal - Lisbon Qatar - Doha Romania - Bucharest Russia - Moscow Saudia Arabia - Riyadh Saudi Arabia - Jeddah Singapore - Singapore South Africa - Pretoria South Korea - Seoul Spain - Madrid Spain - Barcelona Sweden - Stockholm Switzerland - Berne Switzerland - Geneva PM Switzerland - Geneva WTO Syria - Damascus Thailand - Bangkok Timor Leste - Dili Turkey - Ankara Turkey - Istanbul United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates - Dubai United Kingdom - London United States of America - W

ashington DC United States of America - Agana United States of America - Chicago United States of America - Honolulu United States of America - Houston United States of America - Los Angeles United States of America - New York PCG United States of America - New York PM United States of America - San Francisco Vatican - Holy See Vietnam - Hanoi Section 3. Rules Governing Overseas Allowance. The following are the rules governing the grant of the Overseas Allowance: a. The grant of the Overseas Allowance shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 66 of RA No. 7157; b. Husband and wife who are assigned in the same post shall be entitled to separate Overseas Allowance corresponding to their respective ranks; c. In instances where the adjusted amount of the Overseas Allowance is less than the amount currently received, the new rate and index shall be applied prospectively. The personnel concerned shall continue to receive their present Overseas Allowance for the duration of their tour of duty at the post; d. Hardship posts, as may be determined by the DFA Secretary, shall receive an additional five percent (5%) increase in their Overseas Allowance to meet other expenses brought about by dangerous, unhealthy, or excessively adverse living conditions prevailing at post, subject to availability of funds; and e. Foreign service personnel who are detailed to another post shall, for the duration of such detail, be entitled to the Overseas Allowance index of the post where they are temporarily assigned. Section 4. Base Rates of Living Allowance. The annual base rates of the Living Quarters Allowance under EO No. 156 for all Philippine government personnel stationed abroad are hereby adjusted, and shall be implemented in four (4) tranches, as follows: WITHOUT FAMILY RANK Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Chief of Mission I 50,112 58,695 62,987 67,279 70,140 Chief of Mission II 43,5

51,037 54,770 58,503 60,991 Career Minister 37,894 44,384 47,629 50,873 53,036 FSO I 32,947 38,594 41,416 44,237 46,118 FSO II 29,952 34,762 37,168 39,573 41,177 FSO III 27,230 31,457 33,572 35,687 37,096 FSO IV 24,754 28,469 30,326 32,182 33,420 FSSO I 24,754 28,469 30,326 32,182 33,420 FSSO II 23,573 27,103 28,871 30,639 31,817 FSSO III 22,457 25,819 27,503 29,187 30,310 FSSO IV 21,384 24,592 26,195 27,799 28,869 FSSE I 19,440 22,356 23,814 25,272 26,244 FSSE II 19,440 22,356 23,814 25,272 26,244 FSSE III 19,440 22,356 23,814 25,272 26,244 WITH FAMILY RANK Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Chief of Mission I 60,134 70,435 75,585 80,735 84,169 Chief of Mission II 52,286 61,245 65,724 70,204 73,190 Career Minister 45,475 53,262 57,155 61,048 63,644 FSO I 39,542 46,314 49,699 53,085 55,342 FSO II 35,942 41,715 44,602 47,488 49,413 FSO III 32,674 37,749 40,287 42,824 44,516 FSO IV 29,707 34,163 36,391 38,619 40,104 FSSO I 29,707 34,163 36,391 38,619 40,104 FSSO II 28,282 32,524 34,645 36,767 38,181 FSSO III 26,942 30,983 33,004 35,025 36,372 FSSO IV 25,661 29,510 31,435 33,359 34,642 FSSE I 23,328 26,827 28,577 30,326 31,493 FSSE II 23,328 26,827 28,577 30,326 31,493 FSSE III 23,328 26,827 28,577 30,326 31,493 Section 5. Indices of Living Quarters Allowance. The Living Quarters Allowance indices provided under EO No. 156, are hereby adjusted, and the newly opened posts are each assigned an index, as follows: COUNTRY / POST FROM TO Argentina - Buenos Aires Australia - Canberra Australia - Melbourne Australia - Sydney Austria - Vienna Bahrain - Manama Bangladesh - Dhaka Belgium - Brussels Brazil - Brasilia Brunei - Bendar Sera Begawan Cambodia - Phnom Pehn Canada - Ottawa Canada - Calgary Canada - Toronto Canada - Vancouver Chile - Santiago China - Beijing China - Chongqing China - Guangzhou China - Hong Kong SAR China - Macau

China - Shanghai China - Xiamen Colombia - Bogota Czech Republic - Prague Denmark - Copenhagen Egypt - Cairo Finland - Helsinki France - Paris Germany - Berlin Germany - Frankfurt Greece - Athens Hungary - Budapest India - New Delhi Indonesia - Jakarta PE Indonesia - Jakarta PM Indonesia - Manado Iran - Tehran Iraq - Baghdad Ireland - Dublin Israel - Tel Aviv Italy - Rome Italy - Milan Japan - Tokyo Japan - Nagoya Japan - Osaka Jordan - Amman Kenya - Nairobi Kuwait - Kuwait Laos - Vientiane Lebanon - Beirut Libya - Tripoli Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur Mexico - Mexico City Morocco - Rabat Myanmar - Yangon The Netherlands - The Hague New Zealand - Wellington Nigeria - Abuja Norway - Oslo Oman - Muscat Pakistan - Islamabad Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby Poland - Warsaw Portugal - Lisbon Qatar - Doha Romania - Bucharest Russia - Moscow Saudia Arabia - Riyadh Saudi Arabia - Jeddah Singapore - Singapore South Africa - Pretoria South Korea - Seoul Spain - Madrid Spain - Barcelona Sweden - Stockholm Switzerland - Berne Switzerland - Geneva PM Switzerland - Geneva WTO Syria - Damascus Thailand - Bangkok Timor Leste - Dili Turkey - Ankara Turkey - Istanbul United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates - Dubai United Kingdom - London United States of America - Washington DC United States of America - Agana United States of America - Chicago United States of America - Honolulu United States of America - Houston United States of America - Los Angeles United States of America - New York PCG United States of America - N

ew York PM United States of America - San Francisco Vatican - Holy See Vietnam - Hanoi Section 6. Rules Governing Living Quarters Allowance. The following are the rules governing the grant of Living Quarters Allowance: a. The grant of the Living Quarters Allowance shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 65 of RA No. 7157; b. In instances where the adjusted amount of the Living Quarters Allowance is less than the amount currently received, the new rate and index shall be applied prospectively. The personnel concerned shall continue to receive their present Living Quarters Allowance for the duration of their tour of duty at the post; c. For purposes of this allowance, personnel who is living at post of assignment with their legal spouse or at least one (1) qualified dependent child who is not over 18 years of age shall be considered with family; d. Unmarried children who are mentally or physically handicapped as evidenced by a medical certificate from an appropriate licensed professional or authority, shall be considered as dependents, regardless of age, if they are incapable of supporting themselves and are living with officer or employee abroad; e. Payment of the allowance shall be made strictly on the basis of actual status at the post; f. Those whose dependents have temporarily left their residence at post shall retain their "with family" status: Provided, that for the duration of their absence, the personnel concerned shall not move to a cheaper or smaller lodging: Provided, further , that the dependents' absence in a year shall not exceed three (3) months except when such temporary absence arose from events beyond the control of the personnel concerned and approved by the DFA Secretary: Provided, finally, that the dependents have not established residence elsewhere. Gainful employment or enrollment in educational institutions outside of post is an indication of having changed residence; g. In the case of husband and wife

who are both assigned in one (1) post, only the spouse with higher rank shall be entitled to the Living Quarters Allowance, while the other spouse shall be considered as dependent for the purpose of family status; h. Section 6(g) also applies to the husband and wife who are assigned to two (2) different posts, as follows: i. Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Philippine Mission to Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta; ii. Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York; iii. Philippine Embassy in Rome and the Philippine Embassy in Vatican; iv. Philippine Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva and the Philippine Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization; and v. All other similar posts that may be subsequently opened; i. In cases where two (2) or more foreign service personnel are constrained to rent one (1) apartment or housing jointly due to acute housing shortage, prohibitive rental cost, or other justifiable circumstances, the claimants shall be entitled to their respective allowances: Provided, that the Head of Post shall certify in the claim voucher that their respective allowances: Provided, that the Head of Post shall certify in the claim voucher that their individual allowance is insufficient to cover the rental of one (1) apartment or housing unit at the post; j. In posts where there is a standard practice among lessors to require the advance rental or deposit equivalent to at least six (6) months to one (1) year rental of the unit, the advance payment of the Living Quarters Allowance sufficient to cover the required amount may be authorized, subject to the availability of funds: Provided, that the advance rental shall be paid directly to the lessor by the post; k. (awÞhi( In places where the host government or customary business practice requires the payment of an agent's fee/key money or similar fees for the lease and subsequent renewals, p

ayment of the above may be authorized, chargeable against the account of the Department concerned and subject to the availability of funds; l. In lieu of the commutable Living Quarters Allowance, payment of actual rental of quarters occupied by the Head of Post may be authorized, directly payable to the lessor, subject to the available of funds, and as may be warranted by the housing situation in the post of assignment; m. Payment of utilities and other maintenance and operating expenses of the actual quarters of the Head of Post shall be in accordance with regulations as may be prescribed by the DFA Secretary; n. The grant of the Living Quarters Allowance is intended to accord foreign service personnel proper representation in the host country and not to augment salary; and o. In all cases, the grant of the commutable Living Quarters Allowance to all foreign service personnel, or its authorized equivalent such as, but not limited to, payment of actual rental of quarters and utilities, shall be subject to regulations as may be prescribed by the DFA Secretary, provided that the allowance shall not exceed the rates authorized herein. Section 7. Classification of Posts for the Representation Allowance. Philippine Foreign Service posts are categorized into high, medium, and low, cost posts, as follows: a. High Cost posts: These posts have an Overseas Allowance Index of 98 and above; b. Medium Costs posts: These post have an Overseas Allowances index from 90 to 97; and c. Low Cost posts: These posts have an Overseas Allowance index of 89 and below. Section 8. Rates of Representation Allowance. The Representation Allowance per annum shall be granted in accordance with provisions of RA No. 7157, as follows: Rate in US Dollars High Costs Posts From To Chief of Mission (not Head of Post) 7,200 8,280 Career Minister 5,400 6,210 FSO I 4,320 4,968 FSO II 3,240 3,726 FSO III 2,160 2,484 FSO IV 2,160 2,484 Others duly authorized by the Secretary 1,728 1,987 Rate in US Dollars Med

ium Costs Posts From To Chief of Mission (not Head of Post) 4,320 4,968 Career Minister 4,320 4,968 FSO I 3,456 3,974 FSO II 2,592 2,981 FSO III 1,728 1,987 FSO IV 1,728 1,987 Others duly authorized by the Secretary 1,296 1,490 Rate in US Dollars Low Costs Posts From To Chief of Mission (not Head of Post) 3,240 3,726 Career Minister 3,240 3,726 FSO I 2,520 2,898 FSO II 1,944 2,236 FSO III 1,296 1,490 FSO IV 1,296 1,490 Others duly authorized by the Secretary 1,080 1,242 In instances where the adjusted amount of the Representation Allowance is less than the amount currently received, the new rate and index shall be applied prospectively. The personnel concerned shall continue to receive their current rate of Representation Allowance for the duration of the tour of duty at the post. Section 9. Family Allowance. The following are the rules governing the grant of the Family Allowance: a. Qualified dependents of foreign service personnel permanently joining at the post of assignment of the principal are entitled to commutable family allowance, as follows: ii. US$300.00 monthly for the unemployed dependent spouse; and iii. US$200.00 monthly for each dependent minor child not exceeding three (3) in number. b. For this purpose, a dependent child shall mean legitimate, illegitimate, legitimated, or legally adopted child who is not over eighteen (18) years, unmarried, not gainfully employed, and living with the officer or employee at the post of assignment; c. Unmarried children who are mentally or physically handicapped or suffer from any developmental disability or disorder as evidenced by a medical certificate from an appropriate licensed professional or authority, shall be considered as dependents, regardless of age, if they are incapable of supporting themselves and are living with the officer or employee abroad; and d. Subject to the prior approval by the head of the Department concerned, full

Family Allowance may be paid to claimants whose dependent does not live with them at the post of assignment under any of the following circumstances; i. The personnel is compelled to live alone due to dangerous, notably unhealthy or excessively adverse living conditions, or by other unavoidable circumstances like lack of appropriate or reasonable educational facilities for their children; or ii. For the convenience of the Government, the personnel must live alone without any or all the members of his/her family at the post of assignment. All other meritorious cases may be considered by the head of the Department as the circumstances and the exigencies of the service may warrant. Section 10. Education Allowance. Education Allowance may be granted to personnel assigned abroad whose legal dependent children, not over eighteen (18) years old and not exceeding three (3) in number, are enrolled in the primary, elementary, and high school levels. The allowance shall cover the education levels stipulated in RA No. 10533 ("Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013") or the equivalent and mandatory educational levels at the post of assignment. This grant shall not, however, be payable in respect to posts where free education is provided for by the host country's government, and/or where English is the medium of instruction. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department may reimburse expenses of actual costs, upon presentation of receipts and other evidence of payment of tuition fees, matriculation, books and other school fees. The amount of reimbursement per qualified dependent per year should not exceed US$5,000.00, unless amended. Section 11. Mode of Payment. Effective upon full implementation of this Order, payment of the foregoing allowances may be made either in US dollars or in the local currency computed at the prevailing market rate. Section 12. Adjustment of Rates. The allowances covered herein may be reviewed and adjusted every two (2) years by the Secretaries of

DFA and DBM, upon approval by the President, to respond to substantial changes in the economic climate, subject to availability of funds. In dire economic situations, such as foreign exchange fluctuations and a surge in inflation rates, stopgap adjustments may be recommended by the Secretaries of DFA and DBM, on a per post basis, for approval by the President and subject to availability of funds. In case of a newly opened post, which is not included in this Order, the rates/indices/classification of a similar post in terms of economic conditions located in within the same geographical region shall apply, pending approval by the President of an appropriate index/rate for the post. Section 13. Tax exemption. All allowances, per diems, and benefits received by officers and employees in consideration of their services while on assignment abroad, except their basic salaries, shall be exempt from Philippine income tax. Section 14. Funding. For the initial year of implementation, the amount need to cover the foregoing adjustments in the allowances of FSP shall be taken from the agency savings and/or the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund under RA No. 11975 or the "General Appropriations Act (GAA) for FY 2024," subject to relevant budget and auditing laws, rules and regulations. Thereafter, funding for succeeding years shall be provided in the annual GAA, subject to the usual budget preparation process. Section 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DFA, in coordination with the DBM, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Order. Section 16. Separability. If any part or provision of this Order shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. Section 17. Repeal. EO No. 156 (s. 2013) is hereby repealed. All other orders, rules, regulations, guidelines and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed, amended, or mod

ified accordingly. Section 18. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. DONE, in the City of Manila, this 30th day of October, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four. (Sgd.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. By the President: (Sgd.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation