Bachelor in Public Administration 3-1 Professor Ofelia Empemano
Midterm Examination in Public Personnel Administration
Definition and Legal framework of the principles which govern Civil Service employment
1. The Principle of Merit and Fitness
The merit and fitness system is the process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections. A person’s qualifications are to be determined by competitive examinations as far as practicable. The system secures efficiency in government service and promote social justice because it guarantees equal opportunity to all deserving applicants that desires a career in public service. This principle is used as a method in determining appointments in the civil service, as stated in article IX, section 2, paragraph 2 of the 1987 Philippine constitution, “Appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined, as far as practicable, and, except to positions which are policy-determining, primarily confidential, or highly technical, by competitive examination.” The examinations are held by the Civil Service Commission annually. Other than competitive examinations there are other methods in determining merit, by investigation of school records, experience in actual work, achievements attained that is relevant to the position to be filled and etc. Another basis would be the Presidential Decree No. 907 which grants honor graduates or those who have earned at least cum laude honors of a four-year college course either second or first grade civil service eligibility rating depending on the positions to which they are appointed. Lastly, Presidential Decree No. 997 confers civil service eligibilities on scientists and technological specialists based on their qualifications and the requirements of public service.
2. The Principle of Security of Tenure
Security of