QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- In a move to acknowledge the invaluable service and expertise of Sanggunian Members, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has amended its resolution to grant Civil Service Eligibility to a broader range of local government officials. This follows the promulgation of Resolution No. 2300882 on 15 September 2023, amending the previous Resolution No. 1300486 from 2013.

The new rule, which adopts and prescribes the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10156, expands the eligibility criteria for Sanggunian Member Eligibility (SME) under certain circumstances. R.A. 10156, known as "An Act Conferring Upon Members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Appropriate Civil Service Eligibility under Certain Circumstances, and for Other Purposes," outlines the following eligible officials:

- Vice Mayor, as presiding officer for the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod;

- Vice Governor, as presiding officer for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan;

- Regular Sanggunian Members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Notably, SME will not apply to certain Sanggunian members, including those who were not elected at large or by political district. This includes presidents of provincial, city, or municipal chapters of the Liga ng mga Barangay, presidents of the panlalawigan, panlungsod, and pambayang Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, and sectoral representatives to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan, Bayan, or Panlungsod.

CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles emphasized that the amendment aims to recognize the years of dedicated service that Sanggunian members have provided as frontliners in local government units. He highlighted their wealth of experience and expertise as a valuable contribution to the 1.9 million-strong civil service workforce.

Under the new resolution, there are two levels of SME:

- The first level SME is open to those who have served as Sanggunian Members for an aggregate period of six (6) years and have completed at least seventy-two (72) units leading to a baccalaureate or bachelor's degree.

- The second level SME is for officials who have served as Sanggunian Members for an aggregate period of nine (9) years and have completed a baccalaureate/bachelor's degree.

For both levels, the degree program must be recognized by the Commission on Higher Education and obtained from a Private Higher Education Institution in the Philippines or from a State/Local College with a baccalaureate/bachelor's degree included in its Charter, or duly approved by its Board of Trustees/Board of Regents.

Moreover, the new resolution allows for the inclusion of years of service already computed for the first level SME to also count towards the second level SME. However, it excludes years of service in other Sanggunian positions where the functions do not belong to that of a Sanggunian Member, as well as years of service during a term in which their supposed election was recalled.

The Sanggunian Member First Level Eligibility is applicable for entrance and promotion to first level career service positions, while the Sanggunian Member Second Level Eligibility is applicable for entrance and promotion to first level and second level career service positions.

Applicants who were previously denied SME may now refile their applications following these amendments and upon compliance and resubmission of the requirements. The prescriptive period of filing applications has been removed, allowing qualified applicants to apply at any time as long as they meet all the requirements. However, the grant of eligibility based on the amendments will take effect only for new applications or upon the effectivity of the amended IRR.

CSC Resolution No. 2300882, published in a newspaper of general circulation on 15 December 2023 and 10 February 2023, came into effect on 26 February 2024. Interested applicants can find complete provisions and information on SME at the CSC website, www.csc.gov.ph. (CSC/AVS/PIA-NCR)