State Dept. wants to make it harder to get a passport 2011

The region continues to prove that it is capable in competing with those from the other regions as another Cordilleran landed among the top ten in the recent civil service examination.
Olive Ann Jennifer Valdez of Baguio City landed number 7 after the civil service commission issued the result of the May 22 examination. Valdez is among the 81,599 hopefuls who took the same examination simultaneously in different examination centers nationwide.
Civil service commission-CAR irector Fernando Porio said that the national passing rate is 19.1 percent and the region posted a passing rate of 14.57 percent.

Porio identified the top ten passers for the professional level examination in the region as Olive Ann Jennifer Valdez (84.31), Karri Ann Tonel (83.94), Marilly Sualog (83.66), Norman Marquez (83.59), Aaron Kiat-ong (83.27), Cherry Ann Orteza (83.21), Jonel Ian Lucas (83.10), Edcel Mar Parado (83.03), Jerry Bangcawayan (83.02) and Lyndelver J. Borje (82.97).
Topping the sub professional level are Kimberly Perez (83.87), Rachel Gano, (83.00), Dea Angela Belmonte (82.73), Haydee Antonio (82.65), Cash Marie Malinnag (82.64), Karen Joy Lamaton (82.61), Rouelli Gift Bolide (82.55), Cyrel Pacunayen (82.47), Joan Lalawe (82.46) and Jaypee Carlo Bigornia (82.35).
Examinees who took the exams in Bangued, Abra and Bontoc, Mountain Province are advised to get their certificates of eligibility at the CSC field office in the said provinces by presenting a valid ID and 1.5” x 2” ID photo with name tag.

The CSC has also scheduled the last examination for the year on Oct. 16. Deadline for filing of applications in Baguio City is on Sept. 2.

Applicants are reminded to bring the following: a duly accomplished application form, four latest and identical 1.78 x 1.38 passport size ID pictures bearing the surname, first name and middle initial, taken within three months before the date of filing of the application.

Porio said that the certificates of eligibility of the May 22 passers of the career service examination are now available for release at the CSC-CAR office.
Pictures that are scanned, photocopied or computer-enhanced are not accepted and name tags should not be computer-generated.

Additional requirements include submission of any three valid IDs such as driver’s license, SSS ID, current office ID, postal ID, BIR ID, or valid passport which contain the applicant’s picture, signature, birth date, and the signature of the authorized head of the issuing agency. Photocopy of the same should be attached to the approved application form to serve as reference for room examiners on the day of the examination and P500 examination fee.

Porio added that the civil service examination can be taken by anybody who intends to join the government service and it can be taken without limit. He however clarified that taking the same level of examination (professional or sub-professional) either the rough paper-and-pencil test (PPT) or computer-assisted test (CAT) is done every three months only

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has held that candidates seeking a seat under the Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB) under OBC category will have to submit an OBC certificate issued by the competent authority of NCT Government along with their applications. “Allother OBC candidates with certificates issued from outside Delhi will be considered for the general category, if eligible otherwise,” a CAT bench comprising Meera Chhibber and Shailendra Pandey said.

Reiterating DSSSB’s instructions, CAT said that candidates must also submit a passport-size colour photograph in ‘sharp focus’. The CAT said all potential applicants to the DSSSB must strictly follow these specifications while submitting the application form.

The order came on a petition filed by one Sunil Malik, who had challenged the February 10, 2010 order that cancelled his candidature for the post of junior engineer on the ground that he submitted his OBC certificate after the cut-off date.

Malik had also sought a direction to the Delhi government and DSSSB for issuing of his appointment letter as junior engineer in Delhi Jal Board (DJB) with all consequential benefits.Malik had applied as an OBC candidate for the post of junior engineer against a 2009 advertisement by DSSSB for DJB. Since he fulfilled the eligibility, he was allowed to appear in the written test on June 28, 2009 and he cleared the preliminary examination as well as main examination.

However, his case was kept pending for the want of the OBC certificate.

When the final results were declared on November 6, 2009, the OBC candidates were directed to visit the DJB with all original and attested copies of educational qualification/experience/caste certificate on any working day within 15 days.

Malik submitted his OBC certificate on November 17, 2009 along with other certificates within the stipulated period, yet his candidature was rejected, which forced him to approach CAT.

The Delhi government and DSSSB contended that since the OBC certificate was issued after the cut-off date, hence his candidature had rightly been rejected. The last date for submission of application forms was March 3, 2009 whereas Malik’s certificate was issued on November 16, 2009, they argued.

Taking note of the fact that DSSSB had itself extended the time for submitting the necessary documents, CAT held that Malik’s candidature could not have been cancelled on this ground.

Quashing the February 10, 2010 order against him, the CAT ordered DSSSB to issue him the appointment letter. However, it rejected his plea for all consequential benefits, saying he was also at fault for not annexing his OBC certificate along with the application form despite clear instructions in the advertisement.