Chapter II – The Civil Service Commission

Article 147. The civil service shall be administered by the Civil Service Commission composed of a Chairman and two Members who shall be citizens of the Philippines and, at the time of their appointment, at least thirty-five years of age, with proven capacity for public administration, and must not have been candidates for any elective position in the elections immediately preceding their appointment.

The Chairman and the Members shall be appointed by the President of the Republic upon the binding advice of the President of the Council of Government and with the consent of the Commission on Appointments. Of those first appointed, the Chairman shall hold office for seven years, a Member for five years, and another Member for three years, without reappointment. Appointment to any vacancy shall be for the unexpired term of the predecessor. In no case shall any Member be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity.

Article 148. The Civil Service Commission, as the central personnel agency of the Government, shall establish a career service and adopt measures to promote efficiency, integrity, and morale in the civil service. It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system for all levels and ranks.

The civil service shall embrace all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies of the Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations.

Article 149. All public officers and employees and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall make a solemn affirmation in writing to uphold and defend this Constitution.

Article 150. Appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined by competitive examinations. In exceptional cases pertaining to positions which are policy-determining or highly technical, merit and fitness must be based on passing specialized examinations, if any, given for such purpose.

Civil servants shall enjoy performance-based security of tenure. No officer or employee of the civil service shall be removed or suspended except for failure to meet performance standards set by the Civil Service Commission or for other causes provided by law.

No officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign.

The right to self-organization shall not be denied to Government employees.

Article 151. The National Assembly shall provide measures to ensure efficient and faithful delivery of public service in Government.

Article 152. No candidate who has lost in any election shall, within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in the Government or any government-owned or -controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.

Article 153. No elective official shall be eligible for appointment or designation in any capacity to any public office or position during his tenure.

Unless otherwise allowed by law or by the primary functions of his position, no appointive official shall hold any other office or employment in the Government or any of its subdivision, agency or instrumentality, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.

Article 154. No elective or appointive public officer or employee shall receive additional, double, or indirect compensation, unless specifically authorized by law, nor accept without the consent of the National Assembly, any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind from any foreign government.

Pensions or gratuities shall not be considered as additional, double, or indirect compensation.

Article 155. The National Assembly shall provide for the standardization of compensation of Government officials and employees, including those in government-owned or -controlled corporations, and their subsidiaries, taking into account the nature of the responsibilities pertaining to, and the qualifications required for their positions.