Dear PAO,
My son graduated summa cum laude from our local university and is interested in pursuing a career in public service. Is he required to take the civil service examination to enter government service?
Issa
Dear Issa,
The issue you raised is governed by Presidential Decree 907 (PD 907), otherwise known as “Granting Civil Service Eligibility to College Honor Graduates.” The decree is founded on the State policy that graduation with honors, earned under the competitive conditions of the academic community, is a reliable measure of merit and excellence equivalent to a qualifying rating in a competitive civil service examination for purposes of public employment. Signed into law on March 11, 1976, PD 907 applies to honor graduates beginning School Year 1972–1973 onward, reflecting the legislative intent to recognize academic distinction as a legitimate basis for entry into the civil service.
Section 1 of PD 907 expressly provides that honor graduates of four-year or longer courses from schools, colleges, and universities of good standing, as determined by the Secretary of Education and Culture (now the Department of Education), are conferred the appropriate civil service eligibility. Section 2 of the same decree defines “honor graduates” as students who complete their courses with at least cum laude honors, which necessarily includes those who graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude. By virtue of this special law, such honor graduates are granted civil service eligibility without the need to take the corresponding civil service examination.
Nevertheless, the conferment of civil service eligibility under PD 907 is not absolute. In accordance with Section 3 and Section 6, Rule II of the Omnibus Rules Implementing Book V of Executive Order 292 (EO 292), otherwise known as The Revised Administrative Code of 1987, applicants for any civil service eligibility granted under special laws or Civil Service Commission issuances must still satisfy the basic qualifications prescribed by law. These include (1) Philippine citizenship, (2) being at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application, (3) the absence of any conviction involving moral turpitude or offenses characterized by dishonesty, immorality, or disgraceful conduct, (4) the absence of any finding of guilt in offenses related to civil service examinations, and (5) the absence of any prior dismissal from government service for cause.
Compliance with these statutory qualifications is a condition precedent to the recognition and approval of the civil service eligibility, in accordance with the constitutional mandate of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to uphold merit, integrity, and fitness in public service.
In the present case, your son may be eligible for the exemption granted under PD 907, in view of his graduation with the distinction of summa cum laude. Such eligibility, however, is subject to the condition that he fully complies with and possesses all other qualifications and requirements expressly prescribed under the Administrative Code of 1987.
We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice was based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net.
