Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3, paragraph  (b)  of Republic Act Numbered Eight hundred and forty-two, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 3. (b) In the event of vacancies occurring in the clerical service, applicants with professional training in education and suitable civil service eligibility shall be given preference:  Provided, That this proviso shall not apply to employees in the clerical service already in employment of the government as of May 1, 1953. Failure to give preference to duly qualified applicants shall be ground for suspension from the service."

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.