By NG Seruela
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) conducted on Sunday (July 18) its first pen-and-paper Career Service Examination (CSE) since its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
CSC Commissioner Atty. Aileen Lizada said on Monday (July 19) the examinations were conducted agency-based and in some areas such as Bohol, Siquijor, and Tawi-Tawi. She added that those under job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) and those from sub-professional to professional levels were their priority.
The tests were conducted only in selected regions due to the health and travel restrictions implemented in various areas nationwide. Lizada assured that the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID)’s guidelines were followed throughout the duration of the event.
She said health protocols were implemented at the entrance of the exam center in Bohol and that CSC Regional Office 7 was monitoring the conduct of the examinations there with laptops and smartphones using Zoom, Messenger, and text.
In relation to this, Atty. Yasmin Abdulkarim of the CSC in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said social distancing was also properly observed at the entrance to the venue and a separate tent was set up for individuals who need to accomplish their health declaration form.
“Our partners from Mindanao State University- Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO), Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), and [the Philippine] Red Cross were very instrumental in assisting us,” she added.
Abdulkarim said they posted health protocol reminders with translations in Tausug, which is the vernacular language spoken by about 95% of the population in Tawi-Tawi.
Meanwhile, personnel of other government agencies including the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Treasury (BoT), Landbank of the Philippines (LBP), Pag-IBIG Fund, and People’s Television Network, Inc. also took the CSE examination.
The CSC Chief said the next examination may take place in November. – jlo