Establishing the Order of Precedence of Government Office

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