Foreign Service Officer exam on Mar. 28

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs announces the nationwide conduct of the 2010 Foreign Service Officer Examination to recruit qualified candidates for the appointment of Foreign Service Officer IV.

The qualifying test of the FSO Exam will be on March 28. The test covers the following: English grammar and correct usage, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, quantitative reasoning/data interpretation, and leadership/knowledge of management concepts.

Interested applicants must be less than 36 years of age on March 28 although the maximum age limit does not apply to those who have been employed in the DFA or Foreign Service Institute for at least two years prior to the date of the FSO examination and who meet the other necessary qualifications; must have at least graduated from a four-year bachelor’s degree course or its equivalent, and must present his/her transcript of records, and either diploma, certificate of graduation or its equivalent, from a college or university of recognized standing.

Applicant must also be a Filipino citizen. Pursuant to Republic Act 9225 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, those who pass the FSO exam with more than one citizenship shall subscribe and swear to an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and its duly constituted authorities, and renounce their oath of allegiance to any other country prior to the assumption of office.

Application forms can be downloaded from the DFA website (www.dfa.gov.ph) or personally secured from the DFA Central Office or Regional Consular Offices.

Duly accomplished application forms must be submitted in person not later than February 5 to any Regional Consular Office or Foreign Service Post, or not later than February 12 to the DFA Main Office in Manila.

A certified true copy of the transcript of records from college or university bearing seal of the school, a certified true copy of the diploma or certificate of graduation, original birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office, eight pieces 1-1/2 in. x 2 in. black and white or color studio-taken photos taken within six months before the date of the examination showing the full frontal view of the face of the applicant with a name tag, and two pieces self-addressed and self-stamped envelopes marked as priority mail should be attached to the completed application form.

A non-refundable admission fee of P500 will be collected from those who will take the qualifying test upon acceptance of their application.

Only those who passed the qualifying test can proceed to the four succeeding tests as the FSO examination is composed of five parts. These are the qualifying test, preliminary interview, written test, oral test and psychological test.

Cebu City is one of the testing centers of the FSO exam. The other testing sites include the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Baguio, Legazpi and San Fernando in Pampanga.

For more inquiries, please contact DFA-7 at (032) 256-3193. — /MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)