EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 73, October 30, 2024
[ 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
FROM (US$)
TO (US$)
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 83
83
Australia - Canberra 103
84
Australia - Melbourne 103
84
Australia - Sydney 103
84
Austria - Vienna 100
91
Bahrain - Manama 90
92
Bangladesh - Dhaka 85
90
Belgium - Brussels 100
88
Brazil - Brasilia 96
83
Brunei - Bendar Sera Begawan 86
81
Cambodia - Phnom Pehn 83
85
Canada - Ottawa 91
91
Canada - Calgary 95
91
Canada - Toronto 95
91
Canada - Vancouver 93
91
Chile - Santiago 89
78
China - Beijing 96
89
China - Chongqing 95
89
China - Guangzhou 95
89
China - Hong Kong SAR 100
94
China - Macau 96
90
China - Shanghai 96
94
China - Xiamen 91
90
Colombia - Bogota -
84
Czech Republic - Prague 88
88
Denmark - Copenhagen 113
93
Egypt - Cairo 84
80
Finland - Helsinki -
88
France - Paris 102
90
Germany - Berlin 94
83
Germany - Frankfurt 114
83
Greece - Athens 88
80
Hungary - Budapest 88
90
India - New Delhi 85
83
Indonesia - Jakarta PE 88
81
Indonesia - Jakarta PM 88
81
Indonesia - Manado 70
81
Iran - Tehran 80
83
Iraq - Baghdad 92
88
Ireland - Dublin -
80
Israel - Tel Aviv 91
93
Italy - Rome 99
80
Italy - Milan 99
80
Japan - Tokyo 123
81
Japan - Nagoya 123
81
Japan - Osaka 123
81
Jordan - Amman 88
83
Kenya - Nairobi 86
82
Kuwait - Kuwait 88
86
Laos - Vientiane 91
79
Lebanon - Beirut 92
83
Libya - Tripoli 81
65
Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur 86
91
Mexico - Mexico City 93
91
Morocco - Rabat 84
80
Myanmar - Yangon 91
84
The Netherlands - The Hague 95
87
New Zealand - Wellington 105
84
Nigeria - Abuja 102
91
Norway - Oslo 113
91
Oman - Muscat 86
83
Pakistan - Islamabad 85
81
Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby 98
89
Poland - Warsaw 86
82
Portugal - Lisbon 94
79
Qatar - Doha 90
92
Romania - Bucharest -
83
Russia - Moscow 110
79
Saudia Arabia - Riyadh 90
88
Saudi Arabia - Jeddah 85
88
Singapore - Singapore 93
91
South Africa - Pretoria 85
77
South Korea - Seoul 98
92
Spain - Madrid 93
79
Spain - Barcelona 93
79
Sweden - Stockholm 113
85
Switzerland - Berne 103
104
Switzerland - Geneva PM 114
104
Switzerland - Geneva WTO 114
104
Syria - Damascus 89
65
Thailand - Bangkok 89
65
Timor Leste - Dili 94
83
Turkey - Ankara 94
83
Turkey - Istanbul 94
79
United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi 94
96
United Arab Emirates - Dubai 90
96
United Kingdom - London 105
90
United States of America - Washington DC 94
95
United States of America - Agana 102
95
United States of America - Chicago 98
95
United States of America - Honolulu 102
100
United States of America - Houston 94
95
United States of America - Los Angeles 95
100
United States of America - New York PCG 100
100
United States of America - New York PM 100
100
United States of America - San Francisco 98
100
Vatican - Holy See 99
80
Vietnam - Hanoi 83
82
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
FROM (US$)
TO (US$)
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 43,574
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
FROM (US$)
TO (US$)
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 75 67
Australia - Canberra 85 78
Australia - Melbourne 85 76
Australia - Sydney 87 80
Austria - Vienna 107 76
Bahrain - Manama 82 77
Bangladesh - Dhaka 61 71
Belgium - Brussels 107 77
Brazil - Brasilia 91 62
Brunei - Bendar Sera Begawan 75 74
Cambodia - Phnom Pehn 73 73
Canada - Ottawa 85 82
Canada - Calgary 87 79
Canada - Toronto 87 83
Canada - Vancouver 87 86
Chile - Santiago 75 66
China - Beijing 85 86
China - Chongqing 85 76
China - Guangzhou 85 77
China - Hong Kong SAR 102 110
China - Macau 90 83
China - Shanghai 93 105
China - Xiamen 75 76
Colombia - Bogota - 62
Czech Republic - Prague 107 82
Denmark - Copenhagen 107 93
Egypt - Cairo 77 60
Finland - Helsinki - 74
France - Paris 107 85
Germany - Berlin 107 73
Germany - Frankfurt 109 72
Greece - Athens 107 65
Hungary - Budapest 107 74
India - New Delhi 65 65
Indonesia - Jakarta PE 78 68
Indonesia - Jakarta PM 78 68
Indonesia - Manado 55 65
Iran - Tehran 77 72
Iraq - Baghdad 80 81
Ireland - Dublin - 92
Israel - Tel Aviv 98 87
Italy - Rome 107 67
Italy - Milan 107 67
Japan - Tokyo 128 77
Japan - Nagoya 124 76
Japan - Osaka 124 74
Jordan - Amman 80 67
Kenya - Nairobi 74 67
Kuwait - Kuwait 82 75
Laos - Vientiane 65 70
Lebanon - Beirut 98 65
Libya - Tripoli 79 49
Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur 75 71
Mexico - Mexico City 90 81
Morocco - Rabat 77 67
Myanmar - Yangon 66 79
The Netherlands - The Hague 107 78
New Zealand - Wellington 95 77
Nigeria - Abuja 82 63
Norway - Oslo 107 78
Oman - Muscat 80 67
Pakistan - Islamabad 64 68
Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby 101 85
Poland - Warsaw 103 68
Portugal - Lisbon 103 70
Qatar - Doha 86 85
Romania - Bucharest - 67
Russia - Moscow 107 61
Saudia Arabia - Riyadh 82 68
Saudi Arabia - Jeddah 80 70
Singapore - Singapore 92 104
South Africa - Pretoria 79 59
South Korea - Seoul 102 77
Spain - Madrid 107 66
Spain - Barcelona 107 69
Sweden - Stockholm 107 73
Switzerland - Berne 107 93
Switzerland - Geneva PM 109 99
Switzerland - Geneva WTO 109 99
Syria - Damascus 98 51
Thailand - Bangkok 80 71
Timor Leste - Dili 83 76
Turkey - Ankara 91 63
Turkey - Istanbul 91 60
United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi 88 88
United Arab Emirates - Dubai 90 86
United Kingdom - London 107 94
United States of America - Washington DC 90 94
United States of America - Agana 95 81
United States of America - Chicago 98 90
United States of America - Honolulu 98 98
United States of America - Houston 90 88
United States of America - Los Angeles 95 96
United States of America - New York PCG 100 100
United States of America - New York PM 100 100
United States of America - San Francisco 98 100
Vatican - Holy See 107 67
Vietnam - Hanoi 63 71
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. 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, payment 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:
High Cost Posts
Rate in US Dollars
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
Medium Cost Posts
Rate in US Dollars
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
Low Cost Posts
Rate in US Dollars
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:
i. US$400.00 monthly for the unemployed dependent spouse of the Head of Post;
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 modified 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 30 th 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
Want an analysis of this document?
Ask ASG Legal AI to summarize it, compare it with other rulings, or explain how it applies to your situation — it researches from this same library.