DISABLED PERSONS MAY APPLY AND TAKE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

SECTION 26,    Article II of the Constitution, which reads:
“The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public
service “x x x” is interpreted to cover appointments to public office
which appointments shall be based on the principle of merit and fitness
to be determined as far as practicable by competitive examinations.  The
Commission, pursuant to paragraph (1), Section 12, Book V of the
Executive Order No. 292 is empowered to administer and enforce the
constitutional and statutory provisions on the merit system for all
levels and ranks in the civil service.

Thus, in line with the constitutional mandate on the application of
the merit and fitness principle in the appointments of government
employees, the Commission regularly conducts open and competitive civil
service examinations for the career service.  Further, pursuant to
specific special laws, such as R.A. 1080 (Board/Bar as amended and P.D.
No. 907, the Commission grants civil service eligibilities to qualified
applicants.

Furthermore, Section 21, Chapter 5, Book V of the Executive Order No.
292 provides “opportunity for government employment shall be open to
all qualified citizens and positive efforts shall be exerted to attract
the best qualified to enter the service.  Employees shall be selected on
the basis of fitness to perform the duties and assume the
responsibilities of the positions”.

Consequently, the National Council for the Welfare of Disabled
Persons, which is mandated by law to promote the welfare of disabled
persons, specifically their right to equal opportunities, passed
Resolution No. 11, series of 1990, requesting all Examination
Administering Boards and Government Agencies issuing licenses to allow
disabled persons to take board/civil service examinations and to be
issued all types of licenses made available to normal persons.

The CSC Memorandum Circular No. 17, series of 1989 (Physical and
Mental Fitness for Continued Employment in the Public Service), which
provides that:

“The Commission shall maintain a healthy government workforce that
can adequately m§mgCE+< ts of the service.  A healthy employee works
more efficiently, more productively and possesses a better and more
responsive work attitude than a sickly employee”

should not be interpreted to disqualify or disenfranchise persons
who are merely crippled, deaf, mute, or blind and those who only suffer
partial physical disabilities, which deformities do not render them
incapable and unable to perform the duties of certain positions in the
government.

Hence, the Commission, pursuant to its Resolution No. 90-668
promulgated on July 30, 1990 resolved to adopt and promulgate a policy
allowing disabled persons (crippled, deaf, mute, or blind and persons
who suffer partial disability) but whose deformities do not physically
and mentally render them incapable of performing the duties of certain
position which they may be appointed and/or impair the efficient
performance of such duties, to take the Civil Service Examinations.
 Moreover, these disabled persons who pass the Civil Service
Examinations shall be issued the prescribed certificates of
eligibilities.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 30 July 1990

(SGD.) PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS
Chairman