Considering the continued threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has strongly advised interested applicants for the July 18 Career Service Examination-Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) to schedule first an appointment before they appear at its Regional Office (RO) or Field Office (FO) to submit their requirements.
The CSC said the applicants may personally file their applications provided that they schedule an appointment before appearing at RO/FO to submit the requirements.
It said applications may be received via courier filing, where the applicant may submit the requirements via courier and pay the examination fee through designated payment facilities; or any other alternative mode/s as may be determined by the CSC RO.
"Thus, the CSC strongly advises interested applicants to refrain from going to the CSC RO/FO without a confirmed appointment or advance notice. They must first find out the prescribed mode/s of filing by contacting the CSC RO/FO where they intend to submit an application or by visiting its website or Facebook page,” the CSC said in a statement issued by its Publications and Media Relations Division.
The CSC announced on May 14 that it will conduct CSE-PPT for Professional and Subprofessional Levels in some regions on July 18.
The CSC said civil service exam will be held in Regions VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), XII (Soccsksargen-South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
"There will be 12 testing centers, which may be subject to change in light of the emerging/evolving COVID-19 situation,” it said.
The application period started on May 14 and will end on June 3, 2021.
“However, acceptance of applications shall be on a first-come, first-served basis and may close any time once the CSC Regional/Field Office (CSC RO/FO) has reached its target number of applicants,” it said.
As of May 17, slots were already full for testing centers in Koronadal City, General Santos City, Tagbilaran City and Dumaguete City.
New rules
The CSC said due to the pandemic, it will only allow 50 percent occupancy per testing room to allow adequate space for physical distancing.
"Same with examinees with special needs (e.g., pregnant women, persons with disability, elderly), examinees with comorbidities will be assigned separate room/s,” it said.
Examinees are required to pre-accomplish a Health Declaration Form (to be posted on the CSC website for downloading and printing) the day before the exam, the Commission said.
"The temperature reading will be written only upon going through thermal scanning at the school/testing venue main entrance on exam day. Those without the pre-accomplished Health Declaration Form shall be required to accomplish the form at the designated area near the entrance,” it said.
The CSC also required the examinees to register an account with StaySafe.PH, a contract tracing app.
"They are strongly encouraged to update their StaySafe.PH health status every day, particularly within 14 days before and 14 days after the exam day,” it said.
The Commission said there will no longer be an orientation or briefing prior to the test proper.
"Instead, the CSC will release an “Examinee’s Guide” approximately one to two weeks before exam day. This will contain comprehensive information on the conduct of the examination, including guidelines and procedures to be observed before exam day, on exam day, and after exam day, and health and safety protocols to be observed in light of the COVID-19 situation,” it said.
"It shall be the responsibility of each and every examinee to access and be able to understand thoroughly the Examinee’s Guide.”
The CSC also advised the examinees to wear face masks and face shields and practice physical distancing at all times during physical filing of application and on the day of exam.
"Examinees must bring on exam day the Health Declaration Form and no more than 100 mL of alcohol/hand sanitizer, aside from the usual ID card, birth certificate (for those without date of birth on their ID card), and black ballpen/s. They may also bring water or beverage in a transparent container and candies or biscuits.”
The Commission said a Health Monitoring Team will be present on the day of the exam to monitor the observance of health and safety protocols, as well as handle any case of examinees or examiners who would manifest any COVID-19 symptoms on the day of exam.
The CSC-Central Office urged the applicants to direct their inquiries to CSC ROs VI, VII, XII, and CSC for BARMM. The CSC directory is available at www.csc.gov.ph/cscrod.
The full text of Examination Announcement No. 1, s. 2021 can be accessed from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph.