New law gives civil service eligibility to local execs

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has signed a law conferring civil service eligibility on thousands of members of provincial boards and city and municipal legislative councils.

Republic Act 10156 was a consolidation of two bills that the Senate and the House of Representatives had separately approved.

Re-elected Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the authors of the House version of the law, said it would “provide an opportunity for the covered officials to remain in government service even after their terms.”

“This will ensure that qualified and deserving public servants will continue serving our people,” he said.

The new law gives any member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan career service professional eligibility provided he has served for an aggregate period of nine years in office and that he is a bachelor’s degree holder.

A member who has served for six years with 72 units in a baccalaureate degree program is qualified for career service sub-professional eligibility.

Basic civil service eligibility is usually earned in examinations administered by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

A separate, more stringent test is given by the Career Executive Service Board to those aspiring for higher positions in the bureaucracy.

The new law mandates the CSC to issue implementing rules in consultation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government. –Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)