Press Release
March 27, 2006

VILLAR: GOVERNMENT OFFICES SHOULD PRIORITIZE
THE HIRING OF HONOR GRADUATES OF SUCs

Senator Manny Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party, urges government or public offices to help the graduates of over 100 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country to land jobs by prioritizing them in the hiring process.

Villar earlier filed Senate Bill 552 or the Public Honor Graduates Priority Act that seeks to grant priority to honor graduates of state SUCs in the recruitment of civil service employees.

The government invests heavily in education through the SUCs. Thus, priority should be given to qualified honor graduates of public schools in the recruitment of civil service personnel. This would also serve as an incentive for students in government-funded schools to excel academically, cites Villar on his bill.

Villar further cites, Although we would prioritize SUC scholars and honor graduates, we would of course ensure that they would meet the minimum qualifications for the position as required by law.

According to Villar, The products of SUCs, especially honor graduates are the best candidates to fill up vacant posts in government offices. Its like going full circle for them, they graduated because of government funds, and then they will be given an excellent opportunity to pay their dues so to speak.

If passed, the Villar-authored bill proposes the following penalties that would be given by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for any willful violation: suspension of one month without pay; suspension of two months without pay for second violation; and suspension of six months without pay for third and subsequent violations.

Prioritizing the honor graduates of SUCs in the hiring process is just a continuation of the assistance that we can provide our poor but deserving students. This would show them that our support extends up to the time they graduate and find employment. Its just sad to see these bright students join the ranks of unemployed or underemployed, says Villar.

Under the proposed 2006 national budget, the budget for the country's tertiary public education sector is P16.67 billion, which will be shared by 111 SUCs with over 200 satellite affiliated-institutions across the country.

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