In the Philippine legal landscape, public office is a public trust. To ensure that this trust is upheld by competent individuals, the Constitution and various statutes establish a rigorous merit-based system for entering government service. The primary oversight body for this system is the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the central personnel agency of the Philippine government.

I. Constitutional and Statutory Basis

The foundation of the Philippine civil service is found in Article IX-B of the 1987 Constitution. Section 2(2) explicitly mandates that "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."

This constitutional mandate is further operationalized by:

Presidential Decree No. 807 (Civil Service Decree of the Philippines)
Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987)
CSC Resolution No. 1701003 (2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions, as amended)

II. The Concept of "Merit and Fitness"

The law requires that every appointee to a government position must meet the Qualification Standards (QS) established for the specific office. These standards serve as the minimum requirements for appointment and typically cover four pillars:

Education: The formal academic background or degrees required (e.g., Bachelor’s degree, High School diploma).
Experience: The previous work history relevant to the duties of the position.
Training: Specific hours of formal learning and development interventions relevant to the job.
Eligibility: The legal certificate or license required to perform the duties of the position.

III. Categories of Civil Service Eligibility

Eligibility is categorized into two main types based on the level of the position:

Career Service Professional Eligibility: Required for second-level positions (e.g., technical, scientific, or professional work up to Division Chief).
Career Service Sub-Professional Eligibility: Required for first-level positions (e.g., clerical, trade, crafts, or custodial service).

Modes of Acquiring Eligibility

Eligibility is not solely acquired through the standard Civil Service Exams (CSE). Philippine law recognizes several modes:

Written Examinations: The most common route, administered by the CSC (Professional and Sub-Professional levels).
Bar/Board Eligibility (RA 1080): Individuals who passed the Philippine Bar or Board examinations (PRC) are automatically considered eligible for government positions that require the use of their profession, and even those that do not, without taking the CSE.
Honor Graduate Eligibility (PD 907): Graduates who finished summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude from recognized colleges and universities are granted eligibility for second-level positions.
Scientific and Technological Specialist Eligibility (PD 997): Granted to individuals with highly specialized skills in fields such as natural sciences or engineering.
Special Laws: Laws like the Barangay Official Eligibility (BOE) or the Skills Certificate Eligibility (for specific trades) provide alternative pathways.

IV. Classification of Positions

The requirements for employment vary depending on whether the position is under the Career Service or the Non-Career Service.

Career Service: Characterized by (1) entrance based on merit and fitness determined by competitive exams/highly technical qualifications, (2) opportunity for advancement to higher career positions, and (3) security of tenure.
Non-Career Service: Characterized by (1) entrance on bases other than those of the usual tests of merit and fitness, and (2) tenure which is limited to a specific period, or which is coterminous with that of the appointing authority. This includes elective officials, cabinet members, and "primarily confidential" staff.

V. Essential Requirements for Appointment

When a person is selected for a government position, the following "Common Requirements" must be submitted to the CSC for the appointment to be valid:

CS Form No. 33-A (Appointment Form): The formal document signed by the Appointing Authority.
Personal Data Sheet (PDS): Also known as CS Form No. 212, which must be sworn to before a notary public or authorized official.
Position Description Form (PDF): Outlines the specific duties and responsibilities.
Certificate of Eligibility: A dry-sealed or authenticated copy of the eligibility from the CSC, PRC, or Supreme Court.
Medical Certificate (CS Form No. 211): Issued by a government physician, certifying the appointee is fit for work.
Clearances: NBI Clearance is mandatory for initial entry into the service to ensure the absence of a criminal record.

VI. The Rule on Disqualifications

Even if an applicant meets the Qualification Standards, they may be disqualified under Philippine law due to:

Nepotism: Appointments made in favor of a relative within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity of the appointing or recommending authority.
Administrative/Criminal Conviction: A person found guilty of an offense involving moral turpitude or those dismissed from the service for cause are generally barred from re-entering government.
Dual Citizenship: Under the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003 (RA 9225), natural-born Filipinos who lost their citizenship and re-acquired it must renounce their foreign citizenship under oath before being appointed to any public office.
Election Ban: The "Midnight Appointments" prohibition (Article VII, Sec. 15 of the Constitution) prevents the President from making appointments two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of their term, except for temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies will prejudice public service.