FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILLPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 26, provides: “The State shall guarantee equal access 
to opportunities for public service.. ..as may be defined by law.” 
Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of the Philippines, 
provides for the recruitment and selection of employees. Section 21 further provides that 
“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.” 
Government invests heavily in education through state colleges and universities. Hence, 
priority should be given to qualified honor graduates of public schools in the recruitment of civil 
service personnel. This would also serve as an incentive for students in government-funded 
schools to excel academically.* 
’ This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S. B. No. sENAc!2 3 2 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
GRANTING PRIORITY TO HONOR GRADUATES OF STATE COLLEGES & STATE 
UNIVERSITIES IN THE APPOINTMENT OF CNIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES 
Be it enacted by the Serrate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Public Honor Graduates 
Priority Act." 
SECTION 2. Priority in Appointment. - In the appointment of civil service employees, 
priority shall be given to honor graduates of state colleges and state universities of the 
Philippines: Provided, that the employees possesses all the minimum qualifications for the 
position as required by law. 
SECTION 3. Penalties. - In the exercise of its disciplinary authority, the Civil Service 
Commission shall impose the following administrative sanctions for any willful violation of this 
act: 
(A) First Violation - suspension of one (1) month without pay; 
(B) Second Violation - suspension of two (2) months without pay; and 
(C) Third violation and subsequent violations hereof - suspension of six (6) months 
without pay. 
SECTION 4. Rules and Regulations. - The Civil Service Commission shall prescribe the 
rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act. The Civil Service Commission shall 
furnish the House of Representatives a copy of the rules and regulations within ninety (90) days 
after the approval of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect frfteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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