The words you will meet in postings, payslips and appointment papers, explained in one or two sentences each.
Appointment. The official document by which an agency fills a position. It takes effect on the date the appointing officer signs it, and you may not assume duty before the HR office gives you a copy. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Assumption to duty. The day you start work in the position. The agency issues a Certification of Assumption to Duty (CS Form No. 4) within 30 days. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Career Service Examination (CSE). The Civil Service Commission’s examination at Professional and Sub-professional levels. A general rating of at least 80 passes. Source: CSC Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026.
Certificate of eligibility. The CSC document that proves your eligibility. Postings ask for it with your application. Source: CSC Examination Advisory No. 17, s. 2026.
Contract of service and job order. Work engaged for a specific job or period, not through an appointment. It is not government service and has no leave, PERA or other allowances. Source: COA-DBM Joint Circular No. 2, s. 2020.
CSC Job Portal. The Civil Service Commission’s online bulletin of vacant positions, where agencies publish their vacancies. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Eligibility. The civil service qualification a position requires, earned by passing a CSC examination, a bar or board examination, or under a special law. Source: CSC: Special eligibilities.
First-level positions. Clerical, trades, crafts and custodial positions involving non-professional or sub-professional work in a non-supervisory capacity, requiring less than four years of college. Source: CSC issuance in the National Administrative Register.
GSIS. The Government Service Insurance System. Your personal share is 9% of your monthly salary; the government adds 12%. Source: RA 8291, Section 5(a).
Honor graduate eligibility. Eligibility for graduates with Latin honours in a bachelor’s degree, under Presidential Decree No. 907. Source: CSC: Honor Graduate Eligibility.
HRMPSB. The Human Resource Merit Promotion and Selection Board: the agency body that screens and evaluates applicants and helps the appointing authority choose. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Income class. The class of a province, city or municipality based on its income. It decides what percentage of the national salary schedule its employees receive. Source: DBM LBC No. 172.
Medical allowance. Up to ₱7,000 a year for HMO-type benefits, from 2025. Source: EO No. 64, s. 2024, Section 7.
Merit Selection Plan. Each agency’s CSC-approved rules for selecting and promoting staff. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Mid-year bonus. One month’s basic pay as of 15 May, for those with at least four months of service, in service on 15 May and rated at least Satisfactory. Source: DBM BC No. 2017-2.
2025 ORAOHRA. The 2025 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions: the Civil Service Commission’s current rules on how government positions are filled. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Pag-IBIG. The Home Development Mutual Fund. Contributions are 2% of a monthly fund salary of up to ₱10,000, so at most ₱200 from you and ₱200 from your employer. Source: DBM Circular Letter No. 2024-2.
PERA. Personnel Economic Relief Allowance: ₱2,000 a month on top of basic salary for full-time government employees. Source: DBM Budget Circular No. 2009-3.
Personal Data Sheet (PDS). CS Form No. 212, Revised 2025: the official form that records your personal details, education, eligibility and work history, with a Work Experience Sheet. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
PhilHealth premium. 5% of monthly basic salary, with an income floor of ₱10,000 and a ceiling of ₱100,000, under the Universal Health Care Act. Source: PhilHealth Advisory No. 2025-0002.
Probationary period. The first six months of an original appointment, unless the position requires a different period. You become permanent unless you are given notice before it ends. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025.
Qualification standards. The minimum education, experience, training and eligibility a position requires. Every posting lists them.
RA 1080 eligibility. The eligibility that comes with passing a Philippine bar or board examination. Source: CSC: Bar/Board eligibility.
Salary grade (SG). The pay level of a position, from SG 1 to SG 33. Each grade has eight steps. Source: DBM NBC No. 601.
SALN. Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. You file it within 30 days of assuming office, then every year by 30 April. Source: RA 6713, Section 8.
Second-level positions. Professional, technical and scientific positions requiring at least four years of college, up to Division Chief level. Source: CSC issuance in the National Administrative Register.
SPMS. Strategic Performance Management System: how agencies rate employees, usually twice a year, on a five-point scale from Poor (1) to Outstanding (5). Source: CSC Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2012, and its guidebook.
Step. One of the eight pay rates within a salary grade. New hires usually start at Step 1. Source: DBM NBC No. 601.
Step increment. A move to the next step: one step for every three years of continuous satisfactory service in the same position. Source: CSC-DBM Joint Circular No. 1, s. 2012, item 6.1.
Temporary appointment. An appointment of up to 12 months for someone who meets every requirement except eligibility, allowed only when no qualified eligible applicant is available. Source: CSC MC No. 08, s. 2025, Section 9.
Tranche. One stage of a salary increase. Executive Order No. 64 set four: 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027. Source: EO No. 64, s. 2024.
Year-end bonus and cash gift. One month’s basic pay as of 31 October plus ₱5,000, for those with at least four months of service and in service on 31 October. Source: DBM BC No. 2016-4.
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