5T pass initial screening for BOC posts

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs has released the names of about 5,000 applicants who passed the preliminary screening to fill 1,056 vacant positions at the bureau's main office and various collection districts throughout the country.

The pre-screened applicants, comprising of 80 percent of the 6,013 people who submitted their application to the BOC, are required to take the general ability and competency exam to be administered by the Civil Service Commission on August 31, 2014.

The general ability and competency exam was specially developed by the CSC for the BOC. The test will be administered by the CSC in three locations- in Metro Manila for applicants from the National Capital Region and Luzon; St. Theresa's College in Cebu for those in the Visayas; and the University of Mindanao-Matina Campus in Davao for Mindanao applicants.

Examinees must be at the testing centers at least one hour before the time of the examination which will begin at exactly 8 am.

The BOC, in a statement, said that many of the applicants who were disqualified, either did not have the appropriate civil service eligibility or professional license or credential from the Professional Regulation Commission, Philippine National Police or the Philippine Bar, under the Supreme Court.

It added that other reasons for the disqualification include lack of required relevant working experience or training and failure to indicate choice of position or port/office being applied for and to provide work and training experience or information in the Personal Data Sheet.

The statement further said that several applicants were also disqualified outright for having relatives in the BOC up to the fourth degree of consanguinity.

Employees vying for promotion but have been working in the Bureau for less than a year or are in their current positions for less than one year were also excluded.

Examinees that pass the first exam will be required to take the aptitude and psychometric tests as well as specific exams to further test the qualification and fitness of applicants to perform the duties of the position they are applying for.

These may include skill-based or physical fitness tests. — (FREEMAN)