CSC offers advice to exam takers

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) announced that the Career Service Examination – Pen and Paper Test (CES-PPT) scheduled on March 15 will push through but advised takers who exhibit flu-like symptoms to skip the exams.

In the wake of reports of the spread of the novel coronavirus respiratory disease or COVID-19, the CSC advised the examinees to take self-protection measures prior to or on the day of the exams which will take place in 66 testing centers nationwide.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier recommended the cancellation of events that draw huge number of attendees or any form of social gatherings as a precautionary step against the spread of the deadly disease that has claimed scores of lives in China and affected thousands more in other places.

Even the Universities’ Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has postponed the 82nd volleyball tournament set to open today.

“In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the UAAP, after thorough deliberation by the Board of Trustees and the Board of Managing Directors, have come to a decision to postpone all sporting events starting Saturday, 15 February,” Rebo Saguisag announced on Wednesday.

According to the CSC, takers have been reminded on the DOH protection protocol of regularly or thoroughly washing hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

The use of face mask is also encouraged especially for persons who are caring for the sick, healthcare workers attending to patients with respiratory infections/symptoms and persons with respiratory infections/symptoms.

The CSS said that precautionary measures will also be undertaken at the testing sites on the day of examinations.

Registered examinees who fall under these categories are advised not to take the career service tests:

Aside from those who are suffering from respiratory illness or exhibiting flu-like symptoms, other concerns according to the CSC are those who recently came back from travel to mainland China and its Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macau), and Taiwan or another country or place to be later covered by the Philippine Government-issued travel ban.

Those who had recent contact with a person confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 may be accommodated in the August 2020 career service exam schedule after due notice to the CSC regional office where they filed their applications.

Based on CSC’s data, an estimated total of 295,711 individuals nationwide registered for the exam.

Of the figure, an estimated 253,811 will take the Professional Level of exam while an estimated 41,900 will attempt to hurdle the Subprofessional Level.

The regions with the most number of registered examinees are National Capital Region with 52,180 examinees, Region IV (Southern Tagalog) with 33,881, Region VI (Western Visayas) with 23,299, and Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 20,194.