SECTION 1. Section sixteen hundred fifty-nine of the Administrative Code, as amended by Republic Acts Numbered Nine hundred forty-five, Two thousand sixty-eight, Three thousand four hundred sixty-five, Three thousand five hundred ninety-six, and Four thousand one hundred thirty-four, is further amended to read as follows: "SEC. 1659. Chief Officials of the Office of the Solicitor General. — The Office of the Solicitor General shall have one chief to be known as the Solicitor General whose salary shall be the same as that of a Justice of the Court of Appeals. He shall be assisted by one First Assistant Solicitor General and six Assistant Solicitors General who shall have the same salary as that of a judge of the Court of First Instance. When the Solicitor General is unable to perform his duties or in case of vacancy in the Office, the First Assistant Solicitor General shall temporarily perform the functions of said Officer, or in his absence, the next Assistant Solicitor General who is senior in the service. There shall also be fifty-three Solicitors whose salaries shall be as follows:
"(a) Six Solicitors, each of whom shall receive an annual salary of six hundred pesos less than the annual salary of the Assistant Solicitor General;
"(b) Six Solicitors, each of whom shall receive an annual salary of six hundred pesos less than that provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (a);
"(c) Six Solicitors, each of whom shall receive an annual salary of six hundred pesos less than that provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (b);
"(d) Six Solicitors, whose salary shall each be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (c);
"(e) Five Solicitors, whose salary shall each be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (d);
"(f) Three Solicitors, whose salary shall each be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (e) ;
"(g) Three Solicitors, whose salary shall each be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph () ;
"(h) Three Solicitors, whose salaries shall be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (g) ;
"(i) Three Solicitors, whose salaries shall be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (h) ;
"(j) Three Solicitors, whose salaries shall be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (i) ;
"(k) Three Solicitors, whose salaries shall be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (j) ;
"(l) Three Solicitors, whose salaries shall be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (k) ;
"(m) Three Solicitors, whose salaries shall be six hundred pesos less than the salary provided for in the next preceding subparagraph (l).
"The rank, privileges, and qualifications for appointment to the position of Solicitor General shall be the same as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals; the rank, privileges, and qualifications for appointment to the position of the First Assistant Solicitor General and the Assistant Solicitors General shall be the same as those prescribed for Judges of Courts of First Instance, and those of Solicitors shall be the same as those prescribed for provincial fiscals."