AN ACT TO UP-DATE THE COMMISSIONED SERVICE OF THE BUREAU OF COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

• Number: Republic Act No. 2057
• Sections: 9

Section 1 Commissioned service of the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey.

SECTION 1. Commissioned service of the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey.—

The commissioned service in the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, Department of National Defense, established by Executive Order Numbered Ninety-four, series of nineteen hundred forty-seven, shall continue to be distributed in the grades of captain, commander, lieutenant-commander, lieutenant, lieutenant (junior grade), and ensign: Provided, That the number of officers in each grade shall not exceed the following percentages of the total authorized number of commissioned officers on the active list: eight per centum (8%) in the grade of captain, fourteen per centum (14%) in the grade of commander, nineteen per centum (19%) in the grade of lieutenant-commander, twenty-three per centum (23%) in the grade of lieutenant, eighteen per centum (18%) in the grade of lieutenant (junior grade), and eighteen per centum (18%) in the grade of ensign: Provided, further, That the number authorized in each grade may be increased by the number of vacancies existing in the higher grades.

Whenever a final fraction of one-half or greater occurs in computing the authorized number of officers of any grade, the next higher whole number shall be regarded as the authorized number: Provided, That no officer shall be reduced in grade or pay or separated from the active list as the result of any computations made to determine the authorized number of officers in the various grades.

Officers of the corps shall be natural-born male citizens of the Philippines and shall rank with and after officers of corresponding grades in the Armed Forces with the same length of service in grade, as follows: captain with colonel, commander with lieutenant-colonel, lieutenant-commander with major, lieutenant with captain, lieutenant (junior grade) with first lieutenant, and ensign with second lieutenant.

Section 2 Appointment of commissioned officers.

SEC. 2. Appointment of commissioned officers.—

The President shall appoint the commissioned officers of the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey: Provided, That, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, all original appointments shall be in the grade of ensign from among cadets who have qualified in accordance with section 3 hereof; And Provided, further, That all appointments and promotions to the rank of captain shall be made with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress.

The Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey shall have at least the rank of Captain. The Assistant Director shall have at least the rank of Commander. Both shall be appointed by the President, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress, from the list of commissioned officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey not below the rank of lieutenant commander and lieutenant, respectively.

Any commissioned officer who received his commission under Executive Order No. 94, series of 1947, shall continue to hold his commission with all the rights and privileges due his grade as any other officer who receives his commission under Sections 2 (a) or 2 (b) of this Act.

Section 3 Appointment of Cadets.

SEC. 3. Appointment of Cadets.—

Cadets shall be appointed by the Secretary of National Defense, upon recommendation of the Director of Coast and Geodetic Survey, from a list of eligibles established under the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense. The authorized number of cadets may be increased by the number of vacancies in the higher grades. Persons to be eligible for appointment as cadets shall be natural-born male citizens of the Philippines and shall have at least a bachelor of science degree in any of the following fields: geodetic, civil, mechanical, electrical, mining, or chemical engineering, or graduates of a naval or military academy recognized by the government with at least a bachelor of science degree.

Cadets shall be appointed ensigns under the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense as vacancies occur in the commissioned force, after not less than six months of continuous and satisfactory service as cadets.

Section 4 Promotion of commissioned officers.

SEC. 4. Promotion of commissioned officers.—

Commissioned officers of the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey shall be promoted whenever vacancies occur within the limitations imposed under Section 1 hereof in accordance with a set of regulations prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense, and shall receive the same base pay, longevity pay and other allowances as are now or may hereafter be authorized for officers of corresponding grades in the Armed Forces: Provided, That for purposes of this Act, officers commissioned on July 1, 1947 shall be construed to have a length of service equivalent to all the service they have completed with the coast and geodetic survey: Provided, further, That service as an officer in the Armed Forces shall also be included in the computation of length of service.

Commissioned officers in the PI C&GS shall be entitled to time-in-grade promotion after selection on the basis of seniority, fitness, and efficient service by the Personnel Board constituted by the Secretary of National Defense for the purpose.

Irrespective of the existence of any vacancy, individual commissioned officers of the PI C&GS shall be considered by the Personnel Board for promotion to the next higher grade sufficiently in advance of the date on which they complete the corresponding number of years of active commissioned service required hereunder in order that such officers as are recommended by the Personnel Board may be promoted to and appointed in such higher grade on the date on which they correspondingly complete such requisite length of service:

Ensign to lieutenant (junior grade) after three (3) years as ensign;

Lieutenant (junior grade) to full lieutenant after five (5) years as lieutenant (junior grade) ;

Lieutenant to lieutenant-commander after seven (7) years as lieutenant: Provided, That the total number of lieutenant-commanders shall not exceed nineteen per centum (19%) of the total authorized number of commissioned officers in the active list;

Lieutenant-commander to commander after seven (7) years as lieutenant-commander: Provided, That the total number of commanders shall not exceed fourteen per centum (14%) of the total authorized number of commissioned officers on the active list;

Commander to captain after six (6) years as commander: Provided, That the total number of captains shall not exceed eight per centum (8%) of the total authorized number of commissioned officers on the active list.

Any provisions of existing law, executive orders, rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, savings in the appropriations authorized for any fiscal year for the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey for salaries and wages, for sundry expenses, and/or for special purposes may, with the approval of the President of the Philippines, be used to cover the amount necessary to effectuate the time-in-grade promotions herein provided.

Promotions to all grades shall be made by the President: Provided, That no person shall be appointed ensign or shall be promoted from ensign to lieutenant (junior grade), and from lieutenant (junior grade) to lieutenant without passing a satisfactory mental and physical examination conducted in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense.

Section 5 Retirement.

SEC. 5. Retirement.—

The provisions of Republic Act Numbered Six hundred sixty as amended shall continue to be made applicable to the commissioned officers of the Philippine Coast and Geodetic Survey.

For purposes of this section, the periods of service of a commissioned officer of the Philippine Coast and Geodetic Survey shall be credited as follows:

Services of a commissioned officer shall include his total services in the Philippine Government and shall be deemed continuous through the period of enemy occupation during World War II. Service in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey up to and including June 30, 1950, shall in any case be included in determining whether he has completed the minimum or maximum length of service for retirement: Provided, That the last ten (10) years of service shall be as commissioned officer in the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Any period of service amounting to six months or more shall be counted as a complete year.

Section 6 Saving Clause.

SEC. 6. Saving Clause.—Nothing in this Act shall operate to reduce the grade, pay, and allowances of officers who are commissioned in the service of the Philippine Coast and Geodetic Survey at the time of the approval of this Act.

Section 7

SEC. 7. All the provisions of Executive Order No. 94, series of 1947, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall continue to remain in full force and effect.

Section 8 Repeal of Laws.

SEC. 8. Repeal of Laws.—All laws and regulations or provisions thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9 Date of Effectivity.

SEC. 9. Date of Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 13, 1958.