Here's the latest announcement regarding the Foreign Service Officers Exam straight from the Department of Foreign Affairs. I will be discussing each aspect of the exam in detail in later posts. For now, this will have to do:
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 2014 FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER (FSO) EXAMINATION 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 must also possess 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 FSO Examination is composed of five (5) parts:
(1) Qualifying Test;
(2) Preliminary Interview;
(3) Written Test;
(4) Psychological Test; and
(5) Oral Test.
I. Qualifying Test – 10 August 2014
The Qualifying Test covers (1) Verbal Ability; (2) Analytical Ability; (3) Numerical Ability; and (4) Managerial Ability.
The testing centers 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), City of San Fernando City (Pampanga), Tacloban City, Tuguegarao City, and Zamboanga City. The BFSE reserves the right to modify the list of testing centers depending on the number of applicants at any testing center.
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 – To be announced
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 – To be announced
The Written Test covers the following six subjects with the corresponding weights:
1. English
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20%
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2. Filipino
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5%
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3. Philippine Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Conditions - Philippine history, culture, foreign policy, geography, government, development issues and goals
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30%
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4. International Affairs - Theory and practice of international economics and trade, international politics, international law and treaties
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30%
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5. World History
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10%
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6. Foreign Language - Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish
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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 Psychological Test.
IV. Psychological Test – To be Announced
The Psychological Test shall be held in Manila after the results of the Written 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 Psychological Test 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.
HOW TO APPLY
1. Application forms may be obtained in the following means:
- Downloaded from the DFA website (www.dfa.gov.ph);
- Personally secured from the Main Office or Regional Consular Offices (RCO) of the DFA, or from Philippine Embassies/Consulates abroad;
2. Application forms shall be duly accomplished by the applicants and submitted in person from 31 March 2014 (Monday) until 13 June 2014 (Friday) at any Regional Consular Office or at Philippine Embassies or Consulates abroad, and not later than 20 June 2014 (Friday) until 5:00 p.m. only at the Board of Foreign Service Examinations (BFSE) Secretariat, Second 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:
- 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, and duly authenticated by a Philippine Foreign Service Post which jurisdiction covers said foreign school;
- 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, and duly authenticated by a Philippine Foreign Service Post which jurisdiction covers said foreign school;
- Proof of past or present employment or further studies;
- Original birth certificate issued by the National Statistics OfficeFor 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.
- 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.
- Ten (10) pieces photographs: 4.5cm. x 3.5cm.; colored, with white background; taken within three (3) months prior to filing of application; printed on good quality photo paper; in standard close-up shot; in bare face; showing the full frontal view of the face of the applicant; with the applicant's full and handwritten (not computer generated) name tag in the format: First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and extension name (if any) and signature over printed name (For photograph details, please refer to CSC webpage -http://excell.csc.gov.ph/cscweb/geninfo_cse.html)
- Two (2) self-addressed and self–stamped envelopes marked as "priority mail"; and
- Two (2) Original valid identification cards (IDs) and a copy of each IDs.
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 10 August 2014 FSO Qualifying Test only upon inspection and acceptance of their application.
LIST OF DFA OFFICES
DFA Main Office: Board of Foreign Service Examinations, 2nd Floor, Department of Foreign Affairs, 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City | Tel. (02) 834-3080/ 3083 | Email: bfse@dfa.gov.ph
DFA NCR-East Office: 7/F, Building C, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City | Tel (02) 570-3230 | Fax (02) 570-3231 | Email:dfancreast@dfa.gov.phDFA NCR-Central Office: Level 1, Lingkod Pinoy Center, Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City | Tel (02) 631-0806 | Fax (02) 631-0700 | Email:dfancrcentral@dfa.gov.ph
DFA NCR-West: 5/F, SM City Manila, Natividad Almeda-Lopez St. (formerly Concepcion St), Manila | Tel (02) 536-9994 | Fax (02) 536-9995 | Email: dfancrwest@dfa.gov.ph
DFA Satellite Office Angeles: 3/F, MarQuee Mall, Pulung Maragul, Angeles City | Tel. (045) 304-0193 | Email: dfaclarksatellite@yahoo.com
DFA RCO Cotabato: People's Palace, City Hall, Cotabato City Tel. (064) 421-3495, 421-3878 | Fax (064) 421-3495 | Email:rcocotabato@yahoo.com
DFA RCO Davao: 3/F, SM City Davao, Quimpo Blvd., Ecoland, Brgy. Malina, Davao City | Tel. (082) 285-4885, 285-1900 | Fax (082) 285-1727, 2851552, | Email: Mindanao@dfa.gov.ph; davao.rco@dfa.gov.ph
DFA RCO General Santos: Robinsons Place GenSan, J. Catolico St., Ave., Lagao, General Santos City | Tel. (083) 553-8380, 826-9089 | Fax (083) 554-2742 | Email: rco.gsc@gmail.com
DFA RCO Legazpi: Lacandula Drive, Barangay Cruzada, Legazpi City | Tel. (052) 480-3000, 820-3396 | Fax (052) 480-1773 | Email:dfa_legazpi@yahoo.com
DFA RCO Puerto Princesa: 2nd Floor, Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, National Highway, Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City | Tel. (048) 434-1773 | Email: dfarcopprincesa@gmail.com
DFA RCO Tuguegarao: Regional Government Center, Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley | Tel (078) 846-4813, 846-1482 | Fax (078) 846-2310 | Email: rco_tuguegarao@yahoo.com
