Last year, I got an invitation to apply for a position in a government agency. Although I am already civil service eligible by virtue of R.A. No. 1080 (Certified Public Accountant), the agency’s Human Resources Division required me to secure the P.D. No. 907 (Honor Graduate Eligibility) Certificate.
So what is this presidential decree all about?
“The CSC grants the Honor Graduate Eligibility (HGE) to summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude graduates of private higher education institutions in the Philippines from school year 1972-1973 and thereafter, with baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree recognized by the Commission on Higher Education, or state/local college or university with baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree included in its charter, or baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree duly approved by its Board of Trustees/Board of Regents.” Read more here.
Simply, if you graduated with Latin Honors, you don’t have to take the civil service exam anymore. All you have to do is file your application for Honor Graduate Eligibility (HGE). Sadly, not everyone knows this.
There are four modes of filing for the HGE: by the applicant in person, through (an authorized) representative, through conduit CSC regional office, and through mail. Read more here.
Yes, there are a lot of filing modes. But the thing is: the HGE certificate should be issued by the CSC Regional Office which has jurisdiction over the university from where the applicant has graduated.
I completed my undergraduate degree at University of St. La Salle. That means, CSC Regional Office No. 6 (CSC RO 6) in Iloilo should issue my HGE. I’ve been based in Metro Manila since 2015 and we’re amid the pandemic so that complicates the process.
Neither I nor my representative could go to Iloilo just to file, considering the downside safety risks. So I sent an email to the Examination Division of CSC National Capital Region (NCR) with the subject: Query: PD 907 HGE through Conduit Regional Office. The following day, I got a response:
I immediately corresponded with CSC RO 6 to clarify the process and the documentary requirements. Though operating with a skeleton workforce, they gave me clear details, as follows:
“In your email, you are asking for clarification regarding the amount that you should pay for the evaluation and processing of HGE. You are also asking if once your application is approved, can you be able to claim your certificate of eligibility at CSC –NCR.
Regarding your first concern, we are referring to you the following schedule of payments for the grant of eligibility under special laws particularly the HGE.
1. Evaluation Fee Php 200.00
2. Processing Fee Php 300.00
3. Certification Fee Php 100.00
4. Authentication Fee Php 50.00 per copy
On the other hand, with regard to the options of where to claim your certificate of eligibility, please be informed that you can claim the same at any CSC Regional Offices near you or at any CSC Regional Offices of your choice provided however that you have to request in writing and send the same together with your application forms to this Office. For convenience, you should indicate the name and complete address of CSC Regional Office of your choice so that we can facilitate the transfer of your certificate of eligibility.
Below is the list of documentary requirements for your information and ready reference.
Specific Requirements:
1. Original and photocopy of Transcript of Record (TOR) of the applicant;
2. Certification from the university/college that the applicant graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude bearing the Official School Seal. (This certification is separate from and on top of the Transcript of Record); and
3. List of Honor Graduates certified and submitted by the School Registrar to the CSC (agency to agency concern).
4. Evaluation and processing fees of Php 500.00
5. Certification of Eligibility and Authentication of Eligibility fees of Php 100.00 and Php 50.00 per copy, respectively
GENERAL DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS: (shall apply to all types of eligibility granted under special laws and CSC issuances)
1. Properly accomplished Application Form: CS Form No. 101 – D (Revised, Sept. 2013). It can be downloaded from CSC Website
2. Three (3) pieces of identical I.D. pictures with the following specifications:
a. Passport size (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm or 1.8 inches x 1.4 inches);
b. Colored with white background;
c. Printed on good quality photo paper;
d. Taken within three (3) months prior to filing of application;
e. Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera;
f. Showing left and right ears;
g. With neutral facial expression and both eyes open;
h. In bare face (with no eyeglasses, colored contact lens or any accessories that may cover facial features; facial features not computer-enhanced);
i. In standard close-up shot (from shoulder level up with the head and face occupying at least 80% of the picture and with the name tag positioned at approximately 1 inch or 2.54 cm below the chin); and
j. With HANDWRITTEN (not computer-generated) name tag legibly showing SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED FULL NAME in the format:
First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Extension Name, if any (e.g. PETER S. CRUZ JR.).
3. Original and photocopy of any of the following I.D. cards, which must be valid (not expired upon filing of application), and contains the name, clear picture, date of birth and signature of applicant, and the name and signature of the issuing agency’s current head/authorized representative:
Current Office/Company I.D., GSIS ID, PhilHealth ID (ATM Type), School ID (must be duly validated for the current school year), SSS I.D., Voter’s I.D., Passport, PRC License, Postal I.D., BIR I.D., Driver’s License, Barangay I.D. and Police Clearance (with picture).
N.B.: Any other I.D. card NOT included in the above list shall NOT be accepted. Alumni, association, membership, and health I.D.s, including ATM cards, shall NOT be accepted.
4. Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate of the applicant authenticated/issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority;
N.B.: In case where the Birth Certificate is not legible, or the PSA (formerly NSO) has duly issued a negative certification of birth printed in the security form, the applicant shall, in addition, submit the original and photocopy of his/her birth certificate authenticated/issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR).
5. For female married applicants, original and photocopy of Marriage Certificate authenticated/issued by the PSA;
N.B.: In case where the PSA Marriage Certificate is not legible, the applicant shall, in addition, submit the original and photocopy of her Marriage Certificate authenticated/issued by the LCR.
6. Certification of No Pending Case/Non-Conviction of Any Offense (CSC SPEL Form 1, April 2012); and
7. If the application is filed through a representative:
a. Authorization letter executed by the applicant; and
b. Original and photocopy of at least one (1) valid I.D. card of the representative, as listed under Item No. 3 above.
For request of Certification of Eligibility and Authentication of Eligibility, attached herewith are CSC Form EERF and Declaration Form for your convenience.”
Since I opted to file through Mail (registered mail, or courier), I enclosed a Postal Money Order borne in the name of the CSC Regional Office concerned, representing the required fees.
As soon as you’re done securing the requirements, submit your application through your preferred mode of filing and wait to be contacted by CSC. In my case, I waited almost four months, since the HGE Certificate was sent via registered mail (i.e. snail mail via the snail-like PHLPost) from Iloilo to Quezon City. It was not a straightforward process though. I filed a report to the Contact Center ng Bayan aka CCB (dial 8888 on your phone; telco charges apply) because of the excessive delay. Kudos to CCB for helping me battle against the red tape. Upon receipt of the email from CSC, I proceeded to the Quezon City office to claim my HGE Certificate.
The good thing: I received my HGE Certificate
The bad thing: My application was delayed by 4 months + the government agency I am applying to only needed the soft copy. 😦
Now, I’m just waiting for my appointment papers to be signed by the appointing authority. I’m hoping to formally join public service soon. By the time I shall have the opportunity to streamline intra- and inter-agency processes in the government, I’ll make sure to assess the recruitment process to make sure that red tape is eliminated and competent Filipino talents would choose to join the government.
Note: Please reach out to the appropriate CSC Regional Office for updated guidance.
Losing Grip 