RMO No. 25-2021: Prescribes the policies, guidelines and procedures in the conduct of Online Pre-Employment Examination

Summary

RMO No. 25-2021 prescribes the policies, guidelines and procedures for the Online Pre-Employment Examination (OPE), an alternative to the paper-and-pen pre-employment examination.

Key points

1. Coverage. The OPE covers career positions in the first and second level in Revenue Regions that require air or sea travel and/or are considered Interzonal Travel by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). Only areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) may conduct it.
2. Regions that cannot hold the OPE. Applicants in regions that cannot meet the conditions take the paper-and-pen test on a schedule coordinated with the Career Management Section (CMS), Personnel Division (PD). They must submit a letter stating they will travel at their own risk, and comply with quarantine protocols, a travel pass and/or a medical certificate issued within a week before the exam.
3. Number of applicants. Each OPE conduct, per Revenue Region, needs at least fifteen (15) and not more than seventy-five (75) applicants. The number may change based on the latest IATF guidelines on mass gatherings.
4. Who may take the exam. Only applicants endorsed by the Regional Office to the CMS, PD may sit for the exam. An applicant must not have taken the OPE or the paper-and-pen test in the six (6) months before the exam date.
5. Validity and timeline. Test results and interview are valid for five (5) years from the test date or the date of a related personnel action, whichever is later, except in case of reorganization or a similar event. Testing, interview and line-up must not exceed ten (10) working days from the OPE date.

Who is affected

• Applicants for career positions in the first and second level
• BIR Revenue Regions and the CMS, PD

Deadlines and effectivity

• Validity of results: five (5) years
• Testing, interview and line-up: within ten (10) working days of the OPE
• No exam in the preceding six (6) months

Summary by Tax Resources PH. It is not a substitute for the full text of the issuance or professional advice.