A civil service boon

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

President Benigno Aquino III recently signed into law Republic Act 10156 that will greatly benefit elective officials who have served full terms in office but who still have the capacity and the experience to continue serving the government in the civil service.

Republic Act 10156 grants civil service eligibility to members of Provincial Boards of Sangguniang Panlalawigan and town and city councilors, or members of Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Bayan.

Very often we have officials occupying those positions who “graduate,” meaning, they have completed the mandatory three terms or nine years of service, but who are still young, as well as academically prepared to handle even more responsible positions in their towns, cities and provinces.

After having gone through their full terms, they will surely have acquired a lot of experiences and know-how about running a government post, capabilities which may go to waste because they can no longer run for another term.

Under this new law, those of them who have completed college courses and have acquired baccalaureate degrees, will be entitled to a career service professional eligibility, while those who have served only six years, with a minimum of 72 units in a course leading to a bachelor’s degree, will qualify for a career service sub-professional eligibility.

They will acquire this without having to undergo the usual civil service examinations.

Under this new law, the implementing rules and guidelines of which are still being prepared by the appropriate agencies, several of our “graduated” officials can apply for and qualify for positions in any government agency and enjoy the benefits and compensation prescribed, and offices they will serve will also have the privilege of having experienced and knowledgeable workers who acquired them “hands-on”, in a manner of speaking.*