SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Saturday appealed to the Civil Service Commission in relaxing its requirements for new college graduates who want to enter public service.

The senator said skills-matching should take precedence over civil service eligibility when the government needs workers.

Lacson believes not all who pass the civil service exam have the ability and skills that are apt for the needs of the government position they are seeking.

“No one should be denied a chance to get employed, especially with so many Filipinos losing jobs amid the global coronavirus pandemic,” Lacson said.

But at the same time, he also encouraged those who haven’t taken a licensure exam to do so, with the government lowering Covid19 restrictions to Alert Level 1 or the new normal.

A new graduate in Michael John Balang of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Daet, Camarines Norte said he could not get a job even with a fresh college degree in agriculture.

“Hindi pa po ako nakakapasa ng license. So, ngayon po kami pong hindi pa nakakapasa nahihirapan po kami, sir, maghanap ng trabaho. Kasi po ‘pag hindi po legitimate ‘yung graduate student, nahihirapan po siyang pumasok ng trabaho,” Balang said.

Lacson said he understood many dreams were dashed for new graduates, especially during the two-year pandemic, owing to the limitations of public lockdowns and minimum health standards.

In fact, the government only recently resumed the conduct of licensure examinations for various fields, hence many college-age students like Balang have not taken any exams that would qualify them for a license to enter government service.

“Kausap din namin ang Civil Service Commission na kung saan ipinapakiusap namin na huwag masyadong mahigpit na hahanapan ng lisensiya bago pumasok sa gobyerno. Sabi nila pag-aaralan nila,” Lacson said.

“Kasi mas importante, para sa amin ‘yung tinatawag na skills matching. Kasi puwedeng nakapasa ka nga sa licensure pero ‘yung skill mo hindi naman umuugma doon sa mga opening. Maghanap sila doon sa mga hindi nakapasa pero ang skill naman niya, tama naman doon sa hinahanap na kulang na pwesto sa gobyerno,” he added.