General Information · Primary source

R.A. 6713 — Code of Conduct

RA 6713 reviewer for the CSE: the eight norms of conduct, duties like the 15-working-day reply rule, prohibited acts, SALN deadlines, penalties, and practice items.

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CSEPass editorial teamUpdated Facts checked How we source facts7 min readPrimary source

R.A. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) is a frequent General Information theme: norms of conduct, duties to the public, conflicts of interest, and related standards. Everything below is a paraphrased study aid—use the official statute text for exact language.

Key takeaways

  • RA 6713 is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, approved 20 February 1989.
  • Section 4 lists eight norms of conduct, from commitment to public interest to simple living.
  • Section 5 requires officials to reply to letters and requests within 15 working days.
  • Section 7 lists prohibited acts, including soliciting or accepting gifts.
  • Section 8 requires the SALN within 30 days of assuming office, on or before 30 April every year, and within 30 days after leaving the service.
  • The Civil Service Commission has primary responsibility for administering and enforcing the Act (Section 12).

The eight norms of conduct (Section 4)

NormIn plain words
aCommitment to public interestPut the public interest above personal interest; use government resources efficiently and honestly.
bProfessionalismPerform duties with excellence, intelligence, and skill.
cJustness and sincerityStay true to the people; do not discriminate.
dPolitical neutralityServe everyone regardless of party affiliation.
eResponsiveness to the publicExtend prompt, courteous, and adequate service.
fNationalism and patriotismStay loyal to the Republic and the people; promote locally produced goods, resources, and technology.
gCommitment to democracyUphold the democratic way of life and civilian supremacy over the military.
hSimple livingLead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income.

Duties, prohibited acts, and penalties

Duties (Section 5):

  1. Act promptly on letters and requests — reply within 15 working days from receipt, stating the action taken.
  2. Submit annual performance reports.
  3. Process documents and papers expeditiously.
  4. Act immediately on the public's personal transactions.
  5. Make documents accessible to the public.

Prohibited acts (Section 7): financial and material interest in transactions requiring approval of their office; outside employment and related activities; disclosure or misuse of confidential information; and soliciting or accepting gifts.

SALN (Section 8): the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth is filed within 30 days after assumption of office, on or before 30 April of every year after, and within 30 days after separation from the service.

Divestment (Section 9): when a conflict of interest arises, resign from the private business within 30 days of assuming office and divest shareholdings within 60 days.

Penalties (Section 11): a fine of up to six months' salary, suspension of up to one year, or removal, depending on gravity. Violations of Sections 7, 8, or 9 can be punished by imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to ₱5,000, or both.

Source: Republic Act No. 6713.

How to approach

  1. Learn the spirit of the norms. Reviewers often cluster ideas like commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy, and simple living (as framed in the Act—verify in the primary text).
  2. Ask: public interest or private gain? Items often hinge on using office for personal advantage.
  3. Separate ethics law from Constitution structure. Citizenship articles ≠ R.A. 6713 duties.
  4. Don’t invent penalties. If you don’t remember a sanction, eliminate options that sound extreme or oddly specific without recall.
  5. Prefer the option that protects the public. When two answers feel “nice,” choose the one aligned with transparency and accountability themes in the Act.

Worked example

Stem (study aid): Under the ethical standards emphasized in R.A. 6713 (paraphrased), which situation is most clearly problematic for a public employee?

  1. A.Explaining requirements politely to an applicant.
  2. B.Using a government office vehicle for a private weekend family trip unrelated to official duties.
  3. C.Attending a required training on records management.
  4. D.Filing a SALN in accordance with applicable rules.

Work: A, C, and D align with public service duties/compliance themes. B uses public resources for private convenience—classic conflict with public-interest / proper-use expectations in ethics rules (confirm operative sections in the statute). Answer: B.

Common traps

  • Constitution crossover — Answering with Bill of Rights article numbers on an R.A. 6713 stem.
  • “Everyone does it” excuse — Normalizing small misuse of office because it seems common.
  • Over-memorizing section trivia — Failing the item because you chased a section number instead of the ethical idea tested.
  • Private-sector projection — Applying company HR vibes instead of public-office standards.
  • Invented fines/dates — Distractors that quote fake penalty amounts or fake CSC exam fees.

Quick practice

  1. Which theme is most associated with R.A. 6713 study sets?
  1. A.Drawing congressional districts
  2. B.Ethical standards for public officials/employees
  3. C.Customs tariff schedules
  4. D.Barangay skimming contests

Answer: B — That is the Act’s subject matter (see Official Gazette / Lawphil text).

  1. Best study habit for this topic?
  1. A.Memorize rumored exam dates
  2. B.Read primary statute summaries and practice scenario MCQs
  3. C.Ignore explanations’ citations
  4. D.Assume blog posts override the law

Answer: B — Primary text + scenarios beat rumor mills.

  1. Within how many working days must a public employee respond to a letter from the public under RA 6713?
  1. A.5
  2. B.10
  3. C.15
  4. D.30

Answer: C — Section 5(a): within 15 working days from receipt.

  1. Which is NOT one of the eight norms of conduct in Section 4?
  1. A.Simple living
  2. B.Political neutrality
  3. C.Seniority
  4. D.Professionalism

Answer: C — Seniority is not a Section 4 norm.

  1. When is the annual SALN due?
  1. A.On or before 15 January
  2. B.On or before 30 April
  3. C.On or before 30 June
  4. D.On the employee's birthday

Answer: B — Section 8: on or before 30 April of every year.

  1. A clerk serves applicants from one political party first. Which norm is most clearly violated?
  1. A.Simple living
  2. B.Political neutrality
  3. C.Nationalism and patriotism
  4. D.Professionalism

Answer: B — Service must be provided regardless of party affiliation.

Frequently asked questions

What is RA 6713?

Republic Act No. 6713 is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, approved on 20 February 1989. It sets norms of conduct, duties, prohibited acts, and penalties for everyone in government service.

What are the eight norms of conduct under RA 6713?

Commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy, and simple living.

Is RA 6713 on the Civil Service Exam?

Yes. CSC lists the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713) under General Information for both Professional and Subprofessional.

Who enforces RA 6713?

Section 12 gives the Civil Service Commission primary responsibility for administering and enforcing the Act.

Study with this product

  1. Take the free diagnostic to see if ethics/GI items are a weakness.
  2. Drill R.A. 6713 in Practice, or follow Today’s plan—read the provision citation in each explanation.
  3. Sit a full mock when recommended so GI ethics items stay sharp late in the test.

Honest facts

  • Paraphrases on this page are study aids, not legal advice and not a substitute for R.A. 6713’s full text.
  • This is not an “official CSC reviewer,” and nothing here guarantees a pass.
  • We never invent official CSC exam dates, fees, or room assignments—check csc.gov.ph.
  • Sample stems are original practice items, not leaked CSC questions.
  • Readiness Score is a product metric — not a CSC rating prediction.

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