Section 8
SEC. 8. Section sixteen of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 16. Functions of the Commission on Civil Service.— The following shall be the functions of the Commission on Civil Service— "(a) To assist and advise the President on all matters involving personnel management in the government service; "(b) To enforce, execute and carry out the constitutional and statutory provisions on the merit system; "(c) To supervise the preparation and rating and have control of all civil service examinations in the Philippines provided by law and not expressly entrusted by law to some other agency of the government; to foster and develop constructive policies, standards, procedures and programs and give the agencies advice and assistance in improving their personnel programs; and to render such assistance as may be required by other agencies expressly authorized by law to give particular examinations; "(d) To make annual report to the President and Congress, showing the important personnel management activities during the year and making such recommendations as may more effectively accomplish the purpose of this law; "(e) With the approval of the President, to prescribe, amend and enforce suitable rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this Civil Service, Law, and the rules prescribed pursuant to the provisions of this law shall become effective thirty days after publication in the Official Gazette; "(f) To make investigations and special reports upon all matters relating to the enforcement of the Civil Service Law and rules; to inspect and audit the agencies’ personnel work programs to determine compliance with the Civil Service Law, rules, standards and other requirements; and to take corrective measures when unsatisfactory situations are found; "(g) To issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum requiring the appearance of witnesses and the, production of books, and papers pertinent to the Investigation and inquiries thereby authorized, and to examine them and such books and papers as it shall need in relation to any matter it is required to investigate; "(h) To note and keep a record of all appointments and promotions to positions in the competitive service, and to disapprove, within ninety days after submission to it, those where the appointees do not possess the corresponding eligibility: Provided, That such appointments shall become immediately effective upon the assumption of duties of the appointees, entitling them to receive all the corresponding salaries and benefits, until notice of the final decision of disapproval, if this should take place, without prejudice to the liability of the appointing authority under the law: Provided, further, That a disapproval made by the Commission shall be final, unless an appeal is taken from such action as provided by law: Provided, finally, That an increase in salary for the same position shall not require a new appointment, except that copies of the adjustment notice be submitted to the Commission for record purposes. "(i) To decide, within one hundred twenty days after submission to it, all administrative cases against permanent officers and employees in the competitive service, and, except as provided by law, to have final authority to pass upon their removal, separation, and suspension and upon all matters relating to the conduct, discipline and efficiency of such officers and employees; and to prescribe standards, guidelines and regulations governing the administration of discipline; "(j) To hear, and determine within thirty days alter submission to it, appeals instituted by any person aggrieved by an action or determination of any appointing authority contrary to the provisions of the Civil Service Law and rules, and to provide the rules and regulations governing such appeals, and make such investigations or inquiries into the facts relating to the action or determination appealed from as may be deemed advisable, and affirm, review or modify such action or determination, and the decision of the Commissioner shall be final, unless appealed from as provided by law by any person adversely affected by such decision; and "(k) To perform other functions that properly belong to a central personnel agency."