18/04/2026
Pushing for a More Inclusive Civil Service: MCCID and National Council on Disability Affairs Collaborate with Philippine Civil Service Commission π΅ππ€
Last April 15, a crucial consultative meeting was held at the NCDA-DRDC to revisit and explore possible updates to the CSC Board Resolution No. 1701159 series 2017. The discussion aimed to ensure that the Civil Service Examination (CSE) continues to evolve in its accessibility for persons with disabilities, especially the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC), through the Examination, Recruitment, and Placement Office (ERPO), engaged with key advocates and officials to bridge the gap between policy and practice.
Leading the charge for the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) were Deputy Executive Director Dandy Victa and Ms. Jonalyn Lucas (Project Evaluation Officer). They were joined by representatives from Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI), and a dedicated team from MCCID (Manila Christian Computer Institute for the Deaf) represented by:
1. Lemuel Alitre (QC Social Service Division, 13 years of service) shared his invaluable experience taking the exam four times, highlighting the specific difficulties he and three other Deaf examinees encountered.
2. Alexandra Joyce Dominguez (Former Caloocan City Hall Trainee), along with QC-PDAO Office OJTs Rod Kevin Yparraguirre and Donne Ambrosio Dela Cruz, represented the voices of both experienced and aspiring Deaf professionals.
3. Jojo Esposa Jr. (MCCID Training Director) played a dual role, providing technical expertise in the discussions and serving as the Sign Language Interpreter to ensure seamless communication for everyone present.
The group reviewed the current provisions of Resolution No. 1701159 to evaluate how they are working on the ground. These existing accommodations for the deaf and HOH examinees include:
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1-Hour Extension for the exam duration.
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English-Only Questions (removal of Filipino language components).
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Visual Accessibility: No questions involving graphs, tables, or figures.
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Specialized Supervision: Room Examiners who know Sign Language (preferably SPED teachers).
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Deaf-Centric Rooming: Assigning Deaf examinees to the same testing room.
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Streamlined Numerical Questions: Avoiding complex linguistic expressions in math problems.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to a follow-up session featuring a Sample Mock Exam. This will help the CSC and stakeholders see these accommodations in action and identify where updates can further improve the testing experience.
Thank you to the CSC-ERPO, NCDA, and RBI for their dedication to disability inclusion. Together, we are building a civil service that truly values the talent and potential of every Filipino!