CSC: Gov’t office vacancies not reserved for ‘insiders’

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) warned government offices that job vacancies cannot and should not be reserved for ‘insiders’.

The reminder was issued after CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada on Wednesday bared that a complaint was received from a government office vacancy applicant who was barred from submitting application papers.

“May complaint-letter (na) natanggap (ang) office ko, the person, an outsider, applied for the position that was posted.  Di tinanggap ang application nya, reserved na daw for an insider,” Lizada said in a message to reporters.

(There was a complaint from an individual who applied for a posted vacancy.  His application was not accepted since the position was supposedly reserved for an insider.)

“Please remind HRs (Human Resource offices) in the bureaucracy bawal po mag-reserve ng position para sa mga insiders,” she added.

(Reserving vacant positions in government offices for insiders is prohibited.)

“Wala hong reservations sa public service.”

The complainant – applicant was vying for a slot in a government office in the Davao Region,  Lizada said.

‘Insiders’ in government offices refer to employees who are vying for a vacant post either by promotion or reassignment.

This practice, Lizada said, is contrary to the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and the 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions.

Lizada said that officials involved in this scheme may face charges of grave misconduct, abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“Its not fair sa mga interested at qualified po.  Ang nangyayari, palakasan kasi. So yung ranking NR 1 sa selection di napipili kasi yung ranking NR 10 ang gusto,” she explained.

Lizada said that NR 1 refers to number rank one, or the highest-ranked in a list of applicants for the job vacancy.

CSC said that individuals who encountered similar issues can file formal complaints through text (0908) 881 6565.

They can also send e-mails to [email protected].

“If may employee or applicant who experienced this, sabihan niyo po kami so we can look into the appointment papers,” Lizada said.

“Give us details, we will look into it.”  (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)