Establishing the Order of Precedence of Government Office
Administrative Order No. 451, issued on October 5, 1981, establishes the Order of Precedence for government officials during state and official ceremonies in the Philippines. It outlines a hierarchy that ranks officials from the President down to subordinate officials, with specific roles and titles clearly defined. This order may be adjusted based on local customs and traditions but primarily serves to maintain order during ceremonial and social functions, without conferring additional rights or privileges. The Office of Protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be consulted for seating arrangements and other protocol matters, and this order supersedes any conflicting previous orders.
October 5, 1981
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 451
ESTABLISHING THE ORDER OF PRECEDENCE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE
SECTION 1. In state and official ceremonies, government officials, foreign dignitaries and other officials shall be ranked in accordance with the attached Order of Precedence.
SECTION 2. The foregoing order of precedence may be modified as circumstances warrant and as dictated by local customs and traditions. Except as a guide to insure order during ceremonials and social functions, the above ranking of officials shall not entitle them to any other rights and privileges. In social functions, the Office of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, may be consulted on the order of precedence, seating arrangements and other matters of protocol.
SECTION 3. This Order supersedes all other previous orders that are inconsistent therewith.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 5th day of October, 1981.
ATTACHMENT
Order of Precedence
1. The President
2. The Prime Minister
3. The Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa
4. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
5. Former Presidents of the Philippines (courtesy rank)
6. The Deputy Prime Minister
7. The Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Acting Foreign Minister
8. Foreign Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
9. Members of the Cabinet (line and support offices)
Line Ministries —
a. Finance
b. Justice
c. Agriculture
d. Public Works and Highways
e. Education, Culture and Sports Development
f. Labor and Employment
g. Defense
h. Health
i. Industry and Trade
j. Agrarian Reform
k. Local Government
l. Tourism
o. Natural Resources
n. Energy
o. Human Settlements
p. Transportation and Communications
q. Social Services
Heads of support offices and agencies as reclassified by Executive Order No. 711 —
a. National Economic and Development Authority
b. Office of Budget and Management
c. Office of Muslim Affairs
d. Office of Media Affairs
10. Members of the Executive Committee (who are not Minister)
11. Ministers of State
12. Members of the Batasang Pambansa
13. Acting Heads of Ministries
14. Associate Justices of the Supreme Court (by seniority)
15. The Chairman, Civil Service Commission
16. The Chairman, Commission on Elections
17. The Chairman, Commission on Audit
18. Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals (seniority in length of service)
19. Justices of Sandigan Bayan
20. Former Vice Presidents of the Philippines (courtesy rank)
21. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
22. Deputy Ministers of Ministries
23. Ambassadors of the Philippines
24. The Tanod Bayan
25. The Secretary General to the Prime Minister
26. Assistant Ministers of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
27. The Central Bank Governor
28. Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission, the Commission on Audit and the Commission on Elections
29. The Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
30. Assistant Ministers of Ministries
31. The President, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
32. The Metro Manila Governor
33. Heads of Permanent Regional United Nations Agencies in the Philippines who hold the rank of Director
34. Principal Officers with the rank of Counselor of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
35. Foreign Charge d'Affaires en pied
36. Foreign Charge d'Affaires ad interim
37. The President of the University of the Philippines, the Commissioners and Officials with the rank of Deputy Minister
38. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Council (Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook)
39. Speaker of the Regional Assembly (Sangguniang Pampook)
40. Members of the Regional Assembly
41. Members of the Executive Council of the Regional Governors
42. Provincial Governors
46. Foreign Ministers-Counselors, Counselors of Embassies and Legations, Consuls General (Principal Officer) Foreign Military Attaches with the rank of Major General or Rear Admiral, and Officers of the Equivalent Rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
47. Judges of the Courts of First Instance
48. First Secretaries of Foreign Embassies or Legations, Consuls General, Foreign Military Attaches with the rank of Brigadier General or Commodore, and Officers of Equivalent rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
49. Directors of Bureaus and Chiefs of Offices
50. Presidents, Chairmen and Managers of Government Corporations
51. Second Secretaries and Consuls of Foreign Embassies and Legations, Foreign Military Attaches with the rank of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel and Officers of Equivalent rank in the Armed Forces of the Philippines
52. Third Secretaries and Vice Consuls of Foreign Embassies and Legations, Foreign Assistant Military Attaches with the rank of Major or Captain and Officials of equivalent rank of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
53. Subordinate officials