12/10/2025
#๐ฃ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ | ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ป
Eligibility is not a privilege. It is a proof of perseveranceโand it should stay that way.
As the country eagerly awaits the results of the August 2025 Civil Service Examination, a different kind of announcement caught everyoneโs attention. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) released Resolution No. 2500752, otherwise known as the Sangguniang Kabataan Official Eligibility (SKOE). This resolution grants SK officials who have completed a full three-year term civil service eligibility without taking the exam. The news quickly spread online, and while some people praised the move, many, including myself, could not help but feel uneasy.
I took the Civil Service Exam in August 2024. I can still remember the anxiety, the endless nights of review, and the weight of pressure I carried just to prepare for that single test day. Out of all who took the exam nationwide, only 14.43% passed the professional level. That number alone speaks to how difficult the exam really is. It is not just about answering multiple-choice questions; it is a test of focus, comprehension, and oneโs genuine readiness for public service.
When I saw that others would now get the same eligibility instantly, without going through the same process, I felt it was simply unfair.
I deeply respect Sangguniang Kabataan officials. They lead the youth, organize community activities, and promote participation in local governance. Their service to their barangay is meaningful, and their experiences shape them to be future leaders. But public service, especially at the national or government employment level, demands more than just leadership experience. It requires competence, technical knowledge, and an understanding of bureaucratic processes and ethicsโthings that the Civil Service Exam is designed to measure.
In fact, a study conducted by UNICEF and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) described the overall performance of SK officials as โgenerally weak.โ It cited lapses in crafting legislation, submitting reports, and conducting consultations with youth constituents. These findings do not mean that SK officials are incapable, but they remind us that not all who serve in the SK system are performing at a level that warrants automatic eligibility. To grant such a privilege across the board is to disregard the essence of the merit system in government service.
Some may argue that the SKOE is a way to support youth empowerment, a means of giving young leaders more opportunities to continue their journey in public service. I also believe in that vision, but empowerment should never come from shortcuts. Real empowerment means guiding the youth to rise through discipline, effort, and credibility. It means encouraging them to earn their place, not simply granting it because of a title or position.
If anything, I think the Civil Service Exam should have been a requirement for SK officials, not a privilege they can receive after serving their term. Imagine how much more empowering it would be for young leaders to take the exam and pass it, proving that they are indeed ready to move forward in public service. It would have instilled a deeper sense of responsibility and accomplishment, instead of entitlement.
Meanwhile, I cannot help but think about the many Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers who have been in government for years, tirelessly working behind the scenes with no security of tenure and no automatic eligibility. They assist in the daily operations of government offices, often going beyond their duties, and yet they still need to take the Civil Service Exam if they want to become regular employees. If anyone deserves consideration, it should be themโthose who have proven their competence and dedication over time, not because of a temporary position, but through consistent hard work.
Since the resolution has already been issued, what the CSC can still do is to create a more thorough and transparent screening process. Not all SK officials perform equally, so granting eligibility should depend on their actual accomplishments and level of service. The Commission can assess them based on the projects they implemented, their attendance in sessions, financial management, community involvement, and compliance with required reports. This way, eligibility becomes something earned through merit and performance, not given automatically through completion of a term.
Civil service eligibility is not just a paper qualification. It represents readiness, competence, and integrity in public service. I say this from experience. When I took the exam, I did it because I wanted to prove that I was capable of serving the public through my own effort. Passing the CSE was not easy, but it was worth every sleepless night and every ounce of perseverance I gave. Thatโs why it feels disheartening to see something so meaningful being handed out too easily.
At the end of the day, eligibility should never be treated as a privilege. It should remain a symbol of merit, something that reflects both competence and dedication. Empowering the youth should mean guiding them to value the process, not to skip it. Because in public service, as in life, what is earned with effort carries far more meaning than what is simply given.
written by ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฑ ๐ . ๐ฃ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ | Opinion Editor
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