IATF green-lights foreign service exam oral test

MANILA – The oral test for 26 Foreign Service Officers Examination (FSOE) applicants is set on July 28 to 30, the fifth and final phase of the rigorous test.

The Inter-Agency Task Force the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) gave the go-signal on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, also the IATF-EID spokesperson, said in a press statement on Friday that the oral tests will be held at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The FSOE includes a qualifying test, preliminary interview, written test, and psychological test.

Examinees must obtain a rating of at least 80 percent in the written and oral examinations to hurdle the FSOE.

Applicants should be a Filipino citizen, a permanent resident of the Philippines, and a graduate of any four-year Bachelor’s degree course.

They must also have at least two years of work experience or further studies, or a combination of both, after graduating from college or university.

Passers will be appointed as Foreign Service Officers (FSO) who must be willing and able to accept foreign or domestic assignments.

An FSO serves as principal assistant or assistant director in the DFA home office, as third secretary in Philippine embassies or missions, or as vice consul in Philippine consulates.

The officer must have knowledge in current events and history, proficiency in international relations and diplomacy, and grasp of geopolitics and world economy.