The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said fresh graduates and first-time jobseekers aiming for government positions can avail of Certificates of Eligibility (COE) at no cost.
CSC chairperson Karlo Nograles said that under Republic Act 11261, or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act (FTJAA), government agencies shall no longer collect fees or charges from a first-time jobseeker (FTJ) requesting common pre-employment documents.
“We all know how overwhelming it can be to apply for a job for the first time, especially when completing documentary requirements. Offering free pre-employment documents to qualified first-time job seekers not only makes government services more accessible but also expands employment opportunities for Filipinos,” Nograles said.
Pursuant to the FTJAA, the CSC issued a resolution offering one original and one authenticated copy of the COE, free of charge, to first-time jobseekers applying for career service positions. This resolution applies to first-time applicants, who have taken and passed the Career Service Examination, as well as to individuals with Civil Service eligibilities under special laws and CSC issuances.
To request a COE free of charge, an individual claiming to be a first-time jobseeker must be a Filipino citizen actively seeking employment, and must present a barangay certification verifying their status as first-time jobseeker.
Civil service eligibles may then bring the barangay certification to any of the 16 CSC regional offices nationwide, regardless of their place of examination, to request for original and authenticated copies of the COE at no cost. Additional copies are subject to the current fees of P100 per original copy and P50 per authenticated copy of the COE, the CSC said in a statement.
“The CSC hopes that by providing complimentary documents to FTJs, applicants will be encouraged to apply in career positions and join the 1.9 million public servants serving in various offices nationwide,” Nograles added. ||
