Administrative Code of 1987

Section 1

Opportunity for government employment in the career service shall be open to qualified Filipino citizens and positive efforts shall be exerted to attract the best qualified to enter the service. Employees shall be selected on the basis of fitness to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities of the position.

Section 1

These Rules shall be interpreted in the light of the Declaration of Policy found in Section 2 of the Code: "It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest."

Section 2

Classes of positions in the career service, appointment to which requires examinations, shall be grouped into three major levels as follows: a. The first level shall include clerical, trades, crafts and custodial service positions which involve non-professional or sub-professional work in a non-supervisory or supervisory capacity requiring less than four years of collegiate studies; b. The second level shall include professional, technical and scientific positions which involve professional, technical or scientific work in a non-supervisory or supervisory capacity requiring at least four years of college work up to Division Chief level; and c. The third level shall cover positions in the Career Executive Service. Except as herein otherwise provided, entrance to the first two levels shall be through competitive examinations, which shall be open to those inside and outside the service who meet the minimum qualification requirements. Entrance to a higher level does not require previous qualification in the lower level. Entrance to the third level shall be prescribed by the Career Executive Service Board. Within the same level, no civil service examination shall be required for promotion to a higher position in one or more related occupational groups. A candidate for promotion should, however, have previously passed the examination for that level. Moreover, the head of office is not precluded from prescribing any internal screening procedure for purposes of promotion. For the purpose of these Rules, a Division Chief shall refer to the incumbent of a position in the second level of the career civil service, who has the responsibility for overseeing the work of an organizational unit charged with a major and specialized activity.

Section 3

Admission to any examination for entrance into the career service shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines who are at least 18 years of age at the time of application: Provided, That the Commission may, in the interest of the service and considering other relevant factors and circumstances, fix a different age limit for admission to a particular examination.

Section 4

All applicants for examination shall furnish full information as to their citizenship, age, education, physical qualification, and such other information as may be reasonably relevant to their fitness in the service. A thorough medico-physical examination and character investigation may, in the discretion of the Commission, be required of applicants.

Section 5

Properly accomplished application forms shall be filed with the Commission's Regional/Provincial Field Office or any Local Examination Center in the place where the applicant desires to take the examination within the period specified in the examination announcement: Provided, That receipt of applications for a particular examination may be closed anytime as soon as a sufficient number has been received, with due consideration for the needs of the service.

Section 6

The Commission shall disapprove application of an applicant who: (a) lacks any of the minimum qualifications for that particular examination; (b) has been found guilty of crime involving moral turpitude, or of infamous, disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, drunkenness or addiction to drugs; (c) has been previously found guilty of offenses relative to or in connection with the conduct of a civil service examination; or (d) has been dismissed from the service for cause; Provided that when an applicant for examination is found to have intentionally made any false statement of any material fact in his application, or practices or attempts to practice or employs any deception or fraud in connection with his examination, the Commission shall invalidate such examination and such offense shall be ground for his removal from the service; Provided, further, That if the applicant is not in the service, he shall be barred from taking any civil service examination and entry in government service for a period to be determined by the Commission: Provided, finally, That the Commission may, in its discretion, cause the filing of appropriate criminal charges pursuant to Section 67 of the Code.

Section 7

Except as herein provided, no person shall be appointed to, or employed in the career service unless he shall have passed the appropriate examination for such position. As far as practicable, career entrance examination shall be required to test the capacity and fitness of applicants for positions in the career service.

Section 8

Examination may be assembled or unassembled and tests may be written, oral, physical, performance or testimonial, or a combination of these types. Such examinations may take into consideration experience, education, aptitude, capacity, knowledge, character, physical fitness and other factors which, in the judgment of the Commission, determine the relative fitness of applicants.

Section 9

Subject to approval by the proper head of a Department or agency, the Commission may select suitable persons in the government service to act as members of examining committees, special examiners or special investigators. Such persons shall be designated examiners or investigators of the Commission and shall perform such duties as the Commission may require, and in the performance of such duties they shall be under its exclusive control. Members of the examining committees, special examiners or special investigators so designated may be given allowances or per diems for their services, to be paid out of the funds of, and at a rate to be determined by the Commission.

Section 10

All officers of the Civil Service shall facilitate the holding of civil service examinations. Those in custody of public buildings at places where such examinations are held shall, for this purpose, permit and arrange the use of suitable rooms under their charge and the furnishing and lighting of the same when necessary.

Section 11

In line with the national policy to facilitate the integration of the members of cultural communities and accelerate the development of the areas occupied by them, the Commission shall give special civil service examinations to qualify them for appointment in the civil service.

Section 12

Appeals in connection with examinations shall be as follows: (a) Appeal from the disapproval of an application after an applicant has been provisionally admitted to an examination shall be filed in writing by the applicant with the Commission within ten days from the date of receipt by him of the notice of such disapproval. Thereafter, no appeal shall be entertained. (b) When an applicant is required to submit certain papers or to comply with other requirements in connection with his application for examination, he shall submit such papers or comply with such requirements on or before the date of the examination. Failure of the applicant to comply as provided herein shall disqualify him from taking the examination. (c) Appeal from the rating obtained or request for a rechecking of an objective type of examination shall be filed in writing by the examinee within a period of 120 days from the date of release of the examination concerned, and after payment of the amount prescribed by the Commission. Thereafter, no appeal or request for rechecking shall be entertained.