Grant of career executive service rank to NDCP grads revoked

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has revoked the policy granting Career Executive Service (CES) rank to graduates of the Master of National Security Administration (MNSA) program of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP).

The President, in October 2023, suspended the grant of the CES ranks to MNSA graduates pending a review if the policy is consistent with existing laws and rules and regulations.

In February this year, the CES Board (CESB) recommended the revocation of the policy to synchronize the standards and procedures for conferring the civil service ranks.

In issuing Executive Order 63, signed on July 2, 2024, the President revoked EO 145 that was issued in 2021 allowing MNSA graduates who are appointed to CES positions to be granted a rank that is commensurate to their respective positions.

EO 63 states that under the Constitution, appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined by a competitive examination.

It also states that entry to the CES positions shall be prescribed by the CESB, which is mandated to promulgate rules, standards and procedures on the selection, classification, compensation and career development of members of the CES.

The CESB, in coordination with concerned government agencies, shall also formulate and issue the guidelines for the effective implementation of the order.

EO 63 takes effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.