- granted pursuant to Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 907, dated March 11, 1976, titled “Granting Civil Service Eligibility to College Honor Graduates”.
WHO ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE GRANT OF HGE
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The following individuals shall be entitled to the grant of HGE upon submission of required documents:
     a. Those who graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude, in their baccalaureate degree, regardless of the number of years of completion;
     b. Those who graduated from school year 1972-1973, and thereafter; and
     c. Those who graduated in:
         c.1.  Private Higher Education Institution in the Philippines with baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree recognized by the CHED; or
         c.2.  State/Local College or University with baccalaureate/bachelor’s degree included in its charter, or baccalaureate/ bachelor’s degree duly approved by its    Board of Trustees/Board of Regents.

APPROPRIATENESS OF HGE

The HGE shall be considered appropriate for first and second level positions in the government that do not involve practice of profession and are not covered by Bar/board/other special laws.

DATE OF EFFECTIVITY OF HGE

The date of effectivity of the HGE shall be the date of course completion/graduation (as indicated in the Transcript of Record/school certification that the applicant graduated with honors).
PERIOD OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR HGE

Filing of applications for the grant of HGE is continuous.

OTHER POLICIES ON HGE

A. Provided under ERPO Memo No. 1447, s. 2008 dated October 29, 2008 – (Clarificatory Guidelines on the Grant of PD 907 Eligibility)
PD No. 907, among others, explicitly provides that “it is considered that graduation with honors earned under the competitive atmosphere of the academic community is as good as qualifying mark in a competitive examination to determine merit and excellence for public employment;”. (underscoring ours)
B. Policy on Honor Graduates of Distance Education
(pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 1101645)

PD No. 907, among others, explicitly provides that “it is considered that graduation with honors earned under the competitive atmosphere of the academic community is as good as qualifying mark in a competitive examination to determine merit and excellence for public employment;”. (underscoring ours)
Section 4, Article II of Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 27, s. 2005 defines Distance Education as “a mode of educational delivery whereby teacher and learner are separated in time and space, and instruction is delivered through specially designed materials and methods using appropriate technologies, and supported by organizational and administrative structures and arrangements.”
Hence, the nature and workings of distance education, especially the separateness of teacher and learner, is evidently restricted so much so as it reduces the extent of realization and carrying out of a competitive atmosphere that is present in conventional education/schooling.
Furthermore, it is manifest that under distance education, “competitive atmosphere of the academic community”, which plays a crucial role and consideration in the grant of HGE, is not being maximized and capitalized on by the stakeholders because of their being separated from one another. In this context, distance education is contended as vulnerable to working under loose safeguards.
Therefore, for purposes of the grant of Honor Graduate eligibility pursuant to PD No. 907, it is ruled that the nature and workings of Distance Education fall short of the contemplation of PD No. 907. Corollary, honor graduates of Distance Education shall not qualify for the grant of HGE.
C. Policy on the Distinctions of Excellentisimus, Benemeritus, Meritisimus, and Beneprobatus (pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 1101645)
As explained by the Commission on Higher Education, the distinctions of Excellentisimus (Excellent), Benemeritus (Very Good), Meritisimus (Good), and Beneprobatus (Passed) refer only to “marks/grades that a student may receive after the completion of his/her dissertation/thesis paper”. It is worthy to note that a dissertation/thesis paper is merely in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a certain degree program.
In contrast, the Latin honors of Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude refer to “honors conferred based on a student’s scholastic performance and the fulfillment and completion of all the requirements of the program”. Thus, the Latin honors of Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude are being conferred after all requirements have been completed, including the requirement for thesis/dissertation paper.
Therefore, the distinctions of Excellentisimus, Benemeritus, Meritisimus, and Beneprobatus are not comparable to the Latin honors of Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude and, hence, do not fall in the ambit of PD No. 907.

DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
General Documentary Requirements
1. Properly accomplished Application Form (CS Form 101-D, Revised Sept. 2013);
2. Three (3) pieces of identical I.D. pictures taken within the last three (3) months prior to filing of application with specifications, as follows:
a. Passport size (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm)
b. Printed on quality photo paper;
c. In white background;

d. In standard close-up shot (from shoulder level up with the head and face occupying at least 80% of the picture and with the name tag positioned at approximately 1” below the chin);

e. In bare face (without eye glasses/colored contact lens, or any accessory that may cover facial features; facial features not computer-enhanced);

f. Showing left and right ears; and

g. With full name tag:
- The name tag must legibly show the applicant’s signature over complete printed name in the format First Name-Middle Initial-Last Name-Extension Name (if any); and

- The name tag should not be computerized, meaning, the applicant should have his/her picture taken while holding his/her written name tag.
Illustration:
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In detail:
Passport size
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3. Original and photocopy of any of the following I.D. cards, which must be valid (not expired) upon filing of application, and bears the applicant’s complete name, picture and signature, and the issuing officer’s name and signature:
a. Current Office/Company I.D.
b. School I.D (must be duly validated for the current school year)
c. GSIS UMID
d. SSS I.D.
e. Passport (with signature of the applicant)
f. Driver’s License
g. PRC License
h. BIR/TIN I.D. (ATM type/laminated card with picture type)
i. Police Clearance (with picture)
j. Voter’s I.D.
k. PhilHealth I.D. (ATM type)
l. Postal I.D.
m. Barangay I.D.
Note: Any other I.D. card NOT included in the above list shall NOT be accepted. Alumni, association, membership, and health I.D.s, including ATM cards, shall NOT be accepted.
4. Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate of the applicant authenticated/issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO);
Note: In case where the NSO-issued Birth Certificate is not legible, or the NSO has duly issued a Negative Certification of Birth (NSO CRS Form No. 1) printed in NSO security form, the applicant shall, in addition, be required to submit the original and photocopy of his/her Birth Certificate that is authenticated/issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR).
5. For female married applicants, original and photocopy of Marriage Certificate authenticated/issued by the NSO;
Note: In case where the NSO-issued Marriage Certificate is not legible, the applicant shall, in addition, be required to submit the original and photocopy of his/her Marriage Certificate that is authenticated/issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR).
6. Certification executed by the applicant that he/she has no pending administrative and/or criminal case before any court/authorized body, and that he/she has never been found guilty/convicted of any administrative offense and/or crime, using the prescribed CSC SPEL Form 1, April 2012; and
7. If filing of the application is through a representative:
a. Authorization letter executed by the applicant; and
b. Original and photocopy of at least one (1) valid I.D. card of the representative as listed under Item no. 3 hereof.
Specific Documentary Requirements
1. Original and photocopy of Transcript of Record (TOR) of the applicant;
        2. Certification from the university/college that the applicant graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude duly signed by the current university/college registrar or authorized official and bearing the university/college seal. (This Certification is not the Diploma and is separate from the Transcript of Record); and
        3. List of Honor Graduates certified and submitted by the School Registrar to the CSC (agency to agency concern).

WHERE TO FILE APPLICATIONS FOR HGE
Properly accomplished CS Form 101-D (Revised, Sept. 2013), together with the pictures and other documentary requirements, must be submitted to the CSC Regional Office, or any of its Field Offices, having jurisdiction over the university/college from where an applicant has graduated.

MODES OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR HGE
A. By the Applicant in Person;
This mode of filing an application involves the applicant himself/herself going to the CSC Regional Office concerned, or to any of its Field Offices, to personally submit his/her application and documentary requirements. This is the most recommended mode of application filing, as this will allow interview of the applicant as to his/her qualifications and other circumstances relevant to his/her application for eligibility grant.
B. Through Representative;
This mode involves a representative of the applicant going to the CSC Regional Office concerned, or to any of its Field Offices, to submit the application and documentary requirements.
Filing of application through a representative shall require the submission of the following additional documents:
- Authorization Letter executed by the applicant; and
- Original and photocopy of at least one (1) valid I.D. card of the representative.
Note: While filing of application may be coursed through a representative, the applicant shall be required to appear personally before the CSC for the proper issuance and acceptance of the Certificate of Eligibility, should the application be approved. Representative/s shall not be allowed to receive the Certificate of Eligibility on behalf of the applicant-grantee.
C. Through Conduit CSC Regional Office (RO); and
This mode involves applicants who have moved to or are presently based in another region that is far-off from the authorized CSC Regional Office (RO) having jurisdiction over their cases.
In this instance, an applicant concerned, or his/her representative, may file the application to the CSCRO nearest the applicant’s present place of residence or work. Said CSCRO shall act as conduit between the applicant and the authorized CSCRO in facilitating acceptance of the application, and release of the corresponding Certificate of Eligibility (COE) should the application for eligibility grant be approved.
This mode of application filing takes time, considering that communications between the conduit CSCRO and the authorized CSCRO are dispatched at least via registered mail.
D. Through Mail
This mode involves the applicant sending his/her application and documentary requirements (including originals) to the CSC Regional Office concerned through either registered mail, or courier. This mode takes time in view of anticipated exchange of communications.
               Delays and lost of documents through the negligence of the courier is beyond the control of the CSC Regional Office concerned.

SCHEDULE OF FEES
The schedule of fees for the grant of HGE, which covers two (2) stages, is, as follows:

Stages of the Grant Title of Fee Amount of Fee When to be Paid
Stage 1:
Evaluation of Application		 Evaluation Fee Php200.00 Upon filing of application
Stage 2:
Processing of Certificate of
Eligibility		 Processing Fee Php300.00 Only upon approval of application

Applications filed at the CSC Field Office shall be charged only the Evaluation Fee considering that the applications will be forwarded to the CSC Regional Office for review and final evaluation, and processing of Certificate of Eligibility.
Applications filed through Conduit CSC Regional/Field Office or through Mail (registered mail, or courier) should enclose a Postal Money Order borne in the name of the CSC Regional Office concerned (for graduates of local schools), or the CSC Central Office (for graduates of foreign schools), in the amount of Php200.00 representing payment for the Evaluation Fee.