Complete List Of Civil Service Exam Testing Centers For 2018 In The Philippines (By Region)

You have to know the location of your testing center if you are taking the Civil Service Exam this coming year (2018). The good news is that the Civil Service Commission has provided a comprehensive list of testing centers by region. Most of these testing centers are within major cities. For example, if you are in Region I, the testing centers designated for you are San Fernando City, Urdaneta City, Dagupan City, Vigan City, and Laoag City. Below is a complete list of these testing centers by region.

Important reminder: Examinees shall be informed of their places of examination (school assignment) through the Online Notice of School Assignment (ONSA). ONSA shall be available via the Civil Service Commission website approximately two weeks before the examination day. Examinees are advised to have a print-out of their Notice of School Assignment using ONSA.

If examinees cannot access the ONSA or still do not know their school assignment one week before examination day, they should verify or inquire directly with the CSC Regional/Field Office concerned. Examinees, as applicable, are advised to visit and have an ocular inspection of their assigned school at least one day before the examination day to familiarize them with the school's location.

REGION	TESTING CENTERS AND DATES
	March 18, 2018	August 12, 2018
1	San Fernando City Dagupan City Urdaneta City Vigan City Laoag City	San Fernando City Dagupan City Urdaneta City Vigan City Laoag City
2	Tuguegarao City Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya Basco, Batanes Cauayan City	Tuguegarao City Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya Cauayan City
3	City of San Fernando, Pampanga Malolos City Guiguinto, Bulacan Cabanatuan City Balanga City Baler, Aurora	City of San Fernando, Pampanga Malolos City Guiguinto, Bulacan Cabanatuan City Olongapo City Tarlac City
4	Dasmarinas City Batangas City Cainta, Rizal Lucena City Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Boac, Marinduque Odiongan, Romblon Puerto Princesa City	Bacoor City Los Banos, Laguna Sta. Cruz, Laguna Batangas City Morong, Rizal Lucena City Lopez, Quezon Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro Puerto Princesa City
5	Legazpi City Naga City Masbate City	Legazpi City Naga City Virac, Catanduanes
6	Bacolod City Iloilo City Roxas City San Jose, Antique	Bacolod City Iloilo City Kalibo, Aklan
7	Cebu City Dumaguete City Tagbilaran City Bogo City	Cebu City Dumaguete city Tagbilaran City
8	Tacloban City Borongan City Catbalogan City Ormoc City	Tacloban City Maasin City Catarman, Northern Samar
9	Zamboanga City Pagadian City Dipolog City	Zamboanga City Pagadian City Dipolog City
10	Cagayan de Oro City	Cagayan de Oro City
11	Davao City Tagum City	Davao City Tagum City
12	Cotabato City General Santos City Kidapawan City Koronadal City	Cotabato City General Santos City Kidapawan City Koronadal City
CAR	Baguio City Tabuk City Bangued, Abra Bontoc, Mt. Province	Baguio City Bangued, Abra Luna, Apayao Lagawe, Ifugao
CARAGA	Butuan City San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Surigao City Tandag City	Butuan City San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Surigao City Bislig City
ARMM	Cotabato City Iligan City Bongao, Tawi-Tawi	Cotabato City Iligan City Bongao, Tawi-Tawi
NCR	(to be announced soon)	(to be announced soon)

Important Reminders on Examination Day:
1. No ID, no exam.
2. Gates of testing venues shall be closed to examinees at exactly 7:30 am. Examinees that arrive later than 7:30 am shall not be admitted.
3. Failure to take the examination on scheduled date shall mean forfeiture of examination fee and slot. Re-scheduling of examination date is not allowed.
4. Bringing of cellular phones and any other gadgets, including smart watches, calculators, wristwatches and calculator, books and other forms of printed materials and all other similar items, is not allowed. If brought, these shall be surrendered to the room examiners. Firearms, if any, must also be surrendered to the security guard or designated firearm custodian at the entrance gate of the school or testing center.
5. Proper attire must be worn on examination day. Sleeveless shirt/blouse, shorts, short pants, and slippers are not allowed.
6. The Civil Service Commission neither holds any review class nor publishes or distributes any review material for any civil service examination. Further, the CSC does not accredit and has not accredited any review center for the purpose of offering and holding review classes to prospective civil service examinees. Availing of any such product/service shall be at one's own risk.

How To Get A Barangay Certificate Of Indigency Or Low Income In The Philippines

A Certificate of Indigency or a Certificate of Low Income is a document that are sometimes required by the Philippine government or a private institution as proof of an individual's financial situation. The certificate is often required to avail of government services (i.e. educational scholarships, medical assistance).

How and where to get the certificate
Th very first thing you should do is go to the barangay hall where you are a registered voter and request for a Certificate of Indigency or Certificate of Low Income. It's very important that you visit the barangay hall personally because the requirements often differ from one community to another. Ask the person in charge about the documents that you need to process before you can be given a certificate. The requirements needed vary from one barangay to another but these may include any of the following:

1. Barangay Certification / Barangay Certificate of Residency
2. Certificate of No Property from Municipal Assessor's Office
3. Certificate of No Business from the Municipal Treasury Office
4. Certificate of Tax Exemption from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
5. Assessment Report from the CSWDO or MSWDO

In short, aside from visiting your barangay hall for a request, you might also need to go to offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for proper assessment. The steps are often as follows: (1) Register. (2) Submit barangay certification of residency and indigency letter. (3) Receive certificate of indigency.

Here's the mostly used format as well as a sample of a barangay Certificate of Indigency / Certificate of Low Income:

Republic of the Philippines

Province of Benguet

Municipality of La Trinidad

Barangay Buyagan

To whom it may concern:

This is to certify that Juan dela Cruz, of legal age, single, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anton and Benita dela Cruz, is a bonafide resident of barangay Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet. The said person is of good moral character, a law-abiding citizen, and an active member of the community.

Furthermore, Juan dela Cruz is also one of those who belong to a low income family. He has five siblings. The combined annual net income of his parents doesn't exceed fifty-thousand (50,000) pesos.

This certification is being issued upon the request of the above-named person for [identify here the purpose of the requester why he's getting a certificate of indigency].

Given this 3rd day of April 2017 at barangay Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Renato Reyes

Barangay Captain/Punong Barangay

The National Broadband Program Of The Philippine Government

The establishment of a National Government Portal and a National Broadband Plan in the Philippines was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte during the 13th cabinet meeting on March 6, 2017. Duterte's approval came after a thorough presentation by Rodolfo Salalima, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The program aims to deliver fast internet connections in the country including far-flung regions. Duterte's approval of the initiative was first announced by Emmanuel (Manny) Pinol, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

During a hearing at the Senate in 2016, Secretary Salalima said that creating a broadband plan for the entire country would cost between 77 billion to 199 billion pesos. Under the program, the government would build broadband infrastructure in regions that are either unserved or underserved by the country's biggest telecom companies. Telecom providers will also be allowed to use the infrastructure but they have to pay fees to the government.

The project can be completed within three years from the time Duterte issues an executive order.

Duterte's Promise During His SONA
President Duterte promised during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July of 2016 that a national broadband plan must be developed and that free Wi-Fi access must be available around the country. "Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government hospitals, train stations, airports, and sea ports," Duterte said during his address. In the same address, Duterte ordered the DICT to develop a national broadband plan.

How Rich Is President Rodrigo Duterte Of The Philippines?

How rich exactly is Rodrigo Duterte, the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines?

When Duterte filed his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) for 2015, he declared a total net worth of P23,514,569.93 as of December 31, 2015. This amount is P1,542,837.31 higher than the amount that he declared in his SALN for 2014.

The SALN for 2015 is composed of the following:
1) 480,000 pesos - four residential lots in Bago Aplaya, Davao City
2) 840,000 pesos - for two vehicles, a Volks Sedan (acquired in 1978) and a Toyota Rav 4 (acquired in 1996)
3) 925,000 pesos - three lots in Maa, Davao City
4) 14,839,569.93 pesos  - cash in hand
5) 350,000 pesos - household appliances and furniture sets
6) 300,000 - jewelry sets
7) 3,900,000 - investments
8) 3,080,000 - for two agricultural lots, two residential houses and lots, and a residential lot located in Matina, Malagos, and Catigan

Source: Sun Star Davao

How To Get A Passport In The Philippines For First-Time Passport Applicants

If it's your first time to apply for a passport in the Philippines, this step-by-step and detailed guide on how you can go about it should help you make the process easier and quicker. Getting a passport in the Philippines really isn't that hard. Just follow the instructions below. You can print out this article for future reference.

Step One - Get a copy of the passport application form and completely fill it up. You can avail of this form from any Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office. You can also download it from the official website of the DFA. Just copy the form and have it printed out. In the form, you will be asked to provide your complete name, place of birth, date of birth, gender, civil status, address, occupation, citizenship, and contact numbers.

Step Two - Get a copy of your birth certificate in Security Paper (SECPA) that's issued by the Philippine Statistics Office (PSA). The certificate can also be a certified true copy issued by a local civil registrar but it must still be authenticated by the PSA.

Step Three - Make sure that you have the necessary valid IDs and supporting documents. You should have at least one (1) valid ID and two (2) supporting documents. Below is a list of accepted valid IDs and supporting documents as put forth by the DFA.

List of Required Valid IDs:
1. Digitized SSS ID
2. Driver's license
3. GSIS E-card
4. PRC ID
5. IBP ID
6. OWWA ID
7. Digitized BIR ID
8. Senior Citizen's ID
9. Unified Multi-Purpose UD (UMID)
10. Voter's ID

Other types of IDs accepted by the agency:
1. Old college ID
2. Alumni ID
3. Employment ID

List of Required Supporting Documents:
1. Marriage Contract issued by the Philippine Statistics Office
2. Land Title
3. Seaman's Book
4. Government Service Record
5. Police Clearance
6. Digitized Postal ID
7. Voter's Certification, List of Voters and Voter's Registration Record (please attach receipt)
8. School Yearbook
9. Readable SSS-E1 Form or Microfilmed Copy of SSS-E1 Form
10. Barangay Clearance
11. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
12. Elementary or High School Form 137 or Transcript of Records with readable dry seal

Step Four - Schedule an appointment. There are two ways on how you can do this. You can directly visit any of the DFA's regional consular offices and their satellite offices located in selected malls. Or you can schedule an appointment online. It's highly recommended that you schedule an appoint ment online. It's easy and hassle-free. To do it, use the following link: [https://www.passport.gov.ph/appointment]. Just follow the instructions and you are good to go.

Step Five - Go to the consular office or satellite office on the date and time as stated on your scheduled appointment. Don't forget to bring with you the duly accomplished application form, your birth certificate, a valid AD, and two of the required supporting documents.

Step Six - Proceed depending on what happens or what's advised for you to do during your first appointment. That's it. If your application is successful, you can get your passport within a few weeks.

Note: There are two types of passport processing. These are express processing and regular processing. For express processing, the fee that you will pay is 1,200 pesos and your passport will be processed between 7 to 10 working days. For regular processing, the fee is 950 pesos and your passport will be processed between 20 and 30 working days.

A Guide On How To Get Your Voter's ID In The Philippines

You can only get a voter's ID in the Philippines if you are a registered voter and if you have completed your biometrics at a local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). A complete biometrics means the Comelec has your photograph, fingerprints, and signature. No biometrics means you won't be able to get your voter's ID.

Why is it important to get a voter's ID in the Philippines?

Before anything else, it's worth mentioning here that a voter's ID is not a requirement for voting. Even if you don't have the card, you will still be able to vote. The biggest benefit of having a voter's ID is the fact that it's one of the valid IDs that are recognized for identification purposes by government offices and private institutions like banks and organizations. You can present it to prove your identity in almost all government transactions. For instance, it's accepted by the Department of Foreign Affairs if you apply for a passport in the Philippines.

How do you register as a voter?
Well, first of all, you need to be at least 18 years old. If you are within the right age, simply go to a Comelec office near you and tell them that you want to register. They will guide you on what to do next. But before you troop to the registration office, make sure that you have a valid identification document with you.

Here's an updated list of the IDs accepted by a Comelec office for voter registration purposes:

1. Current employee's ID containing the signature of the employer or an authorized representative

2. Student's ID or library card containing the signature of the appropriate school authority

3. Driver's license

4. Passport

5. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID

6. Postal ID

7. Senior Citizen's ID

8. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance
9. Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

10. Social Security System (SSS) ID

11. Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ID

12. Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) license

13) Person with Disability Discount ID

Please note that the cedula (Community Tax Certificate) and clearance from the Philippine National Police are not honored by the Comelec for voter registration purposes.

With your valid ID, go to the Comelec office and register. The whole process will take just a few minutes. You will fill up a form, answer questions by a Comelec employee, have your picture taken, have your thumb prints taken, and provide your signature. After completing your biometrics, the employee will inform you further details on when you will be able to get your voter's ID. Usually, you will be given a stub (a piece of paper) that you will present when you return to claim your voter's ID.

The processing time for the voter's ID differ from region to region. Some voters claim that they are able to get their IDs within weeks, some within months, while others say that it took years before they are able to get their ID. And then there are some who say they never got their ID. With that said, it's best that you regularly return to the Comelec's office where you registered to check on the status of your ID.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting A Voter's ID In The Philippines

What are the information printed on the voter's ID card?

The card will contain the following information: the name and current address of the registered voter, his date of birth, his gender (male, female), his photograph, his thumb print, his precinct number, his voter's identification number or VIN, his signature, and the signature of the chairman of the Election Registration Board.

Can I check online if my voter's ID is ready and available?
No. As far as we know, the Comelec doesn't have a system wherein you can check online if your ID has already been processed and ready for pick-up. Your only option is go to the office where you registered and inquire if your ID is available and ready. Don't forget to bring with you the stub given to you when you registered as a voter. If you lost or misplaced the stub, tell the election officer that you lost it.

Where can I get my voter's ID?
Go to the office where you registered. As far as we know, you can't claim the ID in a different location as the place you registered. For instance, if you registered in Makati City, you can't claim the ID in other cities such as Quezon City.

How long does it take before I'll be able to get my voter's ID?
Again, this seems to be on a case to case basis. Some were able to get their cards within a year, some took more than five years, and some were never able to claim their card. Whether you registered in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, or the years before, your best option is to visit the local Comelec office near you and inquire about the status of your ID. Determination and persistence might get you somewhere. Who knows, those people whose duty it is to process your card may be sitting on their butts because you haven't bugged them enough. :)

How can I check my voter's ID status?
Go to the office where you registered and inquire about your card. Don't waste your time contacting them through their website because they never reply. We know because we tried. Just visit the Comelec branch where you completed your biometrics. There's really no other way of checking the status of your card. As we mentioned earlier, the Comelec doesn't have an online voter's ID verification system.

How about voter's ID release in 2016?
Well, we still haven't heard anything from the Comelec saying they have new batches of IDs for release. They aren't even updating us on the status of the cards. So again, what you need to do is go to the place where you completed your biometrics and ask.

How To Register With The SSS (Social Security System) As A Self-Employed Member In The Philippines

If you are a self-employed person who wants coverage under the Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines, your first step would be to accomplish and submit a Self-Employed Data Record form also referred to as SS Form RS-1. If you do not have an existing SS number, you can secure it by submitting, along with your SS Form RS-1, the original and certified true copy of any of the primary or any two of the secondary documents that are accepted by the agency. These primary and secondary documents are listed below.

List of primary documents for those registering with SSS if you are self-employed (remember that you can present just one of these documents)
1. Baptismal certificate
2. Birth certificate
3. Driver’s license
4. Passport
5. Professional Regulation Commission Card
6. Seaman’s Book

List of secondary documents for those registering with the SSS if you are self-employed (remember that you need to submit two of these in the absence of the primary documents listed above)
1. Alien Certificate of Registration
2. ATM card with the cardholder’s name
3. ATM card and Certification from the card if the card doesn’t contain the holder’s name
4. Bank Account Passbook
5. Birth or Baptismal Certificate of child or children
6. Certificate from the following offices: Office of the Southern/Northern Cultural Communities and Office of Muslim Affairs
7. Certificate of Licensure/Qualification Documents/Seafarer’s ID and Record Book from Maritime Industry Authority
8. Certificate of Naturalization from the Bureau of Immigration
9. Company ID
10. Company Representative Authorization issued by the SSS
11. Credit Card
12. Fisherman’s Card issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
13. GSIS card
14. GSIS Certificate of Membership
15. Health or Medical Card
16. ID card issued by LGUs (e.g. barangay, municipality, or city)
17. ID card issued by a professional association recognized by the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission)
18. Life Insurance Policy
19. Marriage Contract
20. Membership card issued by private companies
21. NBI clearance
22. Overseas Worker Welfare Administration card
23. Pag-ibig member’s data form
24. Permit to carry firearms issued by the Firearms and Explosives Unit of the PNP (Philippine National Police)
25. PHIC member’s data record
26. Police clearance
27. Postal ID card
28. School ID
29. Seafarer’s Registration Certificate issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA)
30. Senior citizen card
31. Tax identification number card
32. Temporary license issued by the Land Transportation Office
33. Transcript of school records
34. Voter’s Identification Card or Affidavit

In the SS Form RS-1, you will be asked to fill up blanks about your name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, civil status, telephone number (residence and office), postal code, profession or business, year you started your profession or business, code for your profession or business, date of coverage, tax identification number, yearly net earnings, and monthly net earnings. You will also be asked to put the names of your beneficiaries like your spouse, parents, children, and other beneficiaries.

Also, bear in mind that as a self-employed contributor, you can pay your contributions either monthly or quarterly. This means you have the option of paying for dues only four times in a year (March, June, September, and December).

Steps In Becoming A Self-Employed SSS Member
Step One: Fill out the SS Form RS-1
Step Two: Submit the form to the nearest SSS office near you.
Step Three: Be ready to answer questions that an SSS officer will ask from you. You will be asked about your source of income so make sure that you bring with you proof of your source of income.
Step Four: If the SSS officer is satisfied with your submitted documents as well as your answers, your SS Form RS-1 will be approved and duly stamped.
Step Five: You are now good to go. You are now a self-employed member and contributor of the SSS.

Registering and Becoming a Self-Employed Member of the SSS (Frequently Asked Questions)
Question: Can I apply and register as a self-employed SSS member online?
Answer: The answer is no.

The Philippine government's definition of a self-employed person is as follows:
A self-employed person, regardless of trade, business or occupation, with an income of at least P1,000 a month and not over 60 years old, should register with the SSS. Included, but not limited to the following are self-employed persons:
1. self-employed professionals;
2. partners, single proprietors of businesses and board directors of corporations duly registered with appropriate government agencies;
3. actors, actresses, directors, scriptwriters and news correspondents who do not fall within the definition of the term "employee;"
4. professional athletes, coaches, trainers and jockeys;
5. farmers and fisherfolks; and
6. workers in the informal sector such as market and ambulant vendors, public utility transport drivers, tourism industry-related workers, and others similarly situated.