Preamble
WHEREAS, the Constitution provides that "the Civil Service embraces every branch, agency, subdivision and instrumentality of the Government, including every government-owned or controlled corporation"; WHEREAS, the Constitution likewise provides that "appointments in the civil service, except as to those which are policy-determining, primarily confidential, or highly technical in nature, shall be made only according to merit and fitness, to be determined as far as practicable by competitive examination"; WHEREAS, it has been observed that many agencies of the government have sought exemptions from the Civil Service Law and rules as well as from coverage by the WAPCO; WHEREAS, a study of these exemptions indicates that these were specifically sought so that these agencies are free to fix any salary rates for their personnel without being restricted by the pay rates prescribed by WAPCO and had nothing to do with the Civil Service Law and rules; WHEREAS, the Civil Service Commission has liberalized the Civil Service Law and rules, and is implementing these Law and rules with greater flexibility consistent with the requirements of a developing economy authorizing temporary appointments in the meantime that it cannot adequately provide personnel with appropriate eligibilities, especially to positions requiring scientific, technical, or specialized training; WHEREAS, these exemptions from the Civil Service Law and rules have brought forth a special class of officials or employees, other than those specifically exempted in the Constitution, namely those positions which are policy-determining, primarily confidential or highly technical in nature; WHEREAS, the emergence of this new class of employees enjoying special status and privilege cannot be tolerated without creating demoralization among the Civil Service ranks throughout the Government; WHEREAS, the Constitution envisions the standardization of compensation of government officers and employees including those in government-owned or controlled corporations by providing that "the National Assembly shall provide for the standardization of compensation of government officials and employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, taking into account the nature of the responsibilities pertaining to, and the qualifications for, the positions concerned"; WHEREAS, those who seek exemption from the Civil Service Law and rules and the WAPCO are apparently motivated by economic gain rather than altruistic considerations which is contrary to the moral standards of the Constitution which views a public office as a public trust; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order the repeal of all charters, laws, decrees, or rules and all provisions or provision of any charter, law, decree or rules exempting any branch, agency, subdivision or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, from the Civil Service Law and rules. I further decree and order that: