The Merit System in Government

The Philippine Constitution provides that appointments in the civil service shall be made according to merit and fitness. In practice, this means that government positions should go to those who are most qualified rather than to those with the right connections. For most positions, applicants must first obtain civil service eligibility, usually by passing the Civil Service Examination. The examination tests verbal ability, numerical ability, analytical skills and general information, including knowledge of the Constitution and the code of conduct for public officials. Eligibility alone, however, does not guarantee appointment. Agencies must also evaluate education, training, experience and performance, often through interviews and written tests. Critics argue that patronage still influences some appointments, especially at the local level. Defenders of the system reply that, despite its flaws, the merit principle has raised the overall quality of the bureaucracy and given ordinary citizens a fair chance to enter government service.