 |
| Examinees find their names in the list of those allowed to take the civil service exam. |
Many vacancies need to be filled up in the government service back home and those who pass the just-recently concluded civil service examination for Hong Kong-based OFWs could qualify to take up those jobs, an official of the Civil Service Commission said.
Fernando Porio, director of the CSC’s Examination, Recruitment & Placement Office, also said that the holding of the first-ever exam for Filipinos in Hong Kong, was part of the government’s reintegration plan for returning OFWs.
He said the CSC could also hold the exam in other countries where there are OFWs, as long as the overseas posts concerned would make a request.
About 1,000 examinees took the exam on Sunday, Nov 27, at the Delia Memorial School Hip Wo in Kwun Tong.
More than 100 examinees came from Macau.
Porio said the CSC was excited to hold the exam in Hong Kong as it would mean helping Filipinos who would like to go home and enter government service.
Porio administered the test with seven assistants, and were helped by 80 Hong Kong-based volunteers who acted as proctors and watchers.
“There are a number of vacancies that need to be filled up (in government offices),” Porio told The SUN during an interview at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
“These are first- and second-level positions to be filled up, some administrative, some clerical and professional positions. Marami,” he said.
Porio said the idea of holding the first ever civil service exam in Hong Kong was meant to enable returning OFWs to work for the government.
This was reportedly communicated to CSC chair Alicia dela Rosa-Bala by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
“They told us that this is their (the government’s) intention and we support them. (Our) chairwoman, in her formal reply to the secretary of labor and employment said we are fully supportive whatever program the government has for the overseas Filipinos,” Porio said.
He admitted that there are still many political appointees among government employees, but said there certain standards used in vetting appointments. “Hindi mawawala iyan (political influence)… But in any position like heads of offices, meron naman ang CSC ng qualification standards that all offices abide by,” he said.
