Government workers who have served for at least 10 years and have acquired relevant knowledge and skills but do not meet the requirements for civil service eligibility are encouraged to apply for the Grant of Career Service Eligibility-Preference Rating (CSE-PR).

Under the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Resolution No. 2301123, promulgated on Dec. 7, 2023, a preference rating of up to 10 points will be added to the failed rating range (70 to 79.99) to achieve a passing rate of 80 for qualified applicants in Career Service Examinations (CSEs), thereby qualifying them for Career Service Professional or Subprofessional eligibility.

CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles acknowledged the common situation in which many government employees, motivated by a genuine commitment to public service, find themselves lacking the necessary civil service eligibility.

“In recognition of these government workers who have already contributed so much in our efforts to provide efficient public service, the CSC has resolved to grant them with CSE preference rating under specific conditions,” he said.

The CSC Resolution applies to government workers collectively referred to as JOCOSC6.

Individuals under Job Order (JO), Contract of Service (COS), Casual, Contractual, and Coterminous, employees holding Category III and Category IV positions as enumerated in CSC Memorandum Circular No. 10 dated April 16, 2013, and career service employees with first level eligibility are among those covered.

To be eligible, applicants must have served in the government as JOCOSC6 for at least 10 years and have received a performance rating of at least very satisfactory or its equivalent in the two most recent rating periods prior to the application date.

Furthermore, JOCOSC6 individuals interested in the CSE-PR must have applied for and taken the scheduled CSE beginning with the March 3, 2024 CSE and thereafter, at either Professional or Subprofessional levels, with a failing general rating of at least 70.

The application for the grant of CSE-PR must be filed using the appropriate application form with complete requirements within six months from the date of release of the results of the CSE taken.

Nograles clarified that individuals can only avail themselves of the CSE-PR grant once.

"The grant of the preference rating is an exceptional privilege extended only to those who have already demonstrated their ability to satisfy the demands of the job despite not having the required civil service eligibility. Through this initiative, we acknowledge that actual job experience is given due consideration in measuring one’s aptitude to perform the duties of a public servant,” he said.

“We are mindful, however, of the need to uphold meritocracy in the hiring process and to ensure that the quality of government service will not be compromised. Therefore, the conferment of CSE-PR will go through a meticulous process so that only those who are truly qualified may avail of this privilege,” he added.