Yt Framework

The country’s population is almost equally distributed among men and women. Despite this fact, various forms of gender inequality and stereotyping still abound, with women commonly at the losing end.

While gender inequality remains to be everyone’s concern, civil servants, being policy makers and implementers, can be influential agents of change. Thus, they are given the chance to share their opinions on this issue by joining the 2012 Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) Essay Writing Contest.

The contest, with the theme “Lingkod Bayani Working for Gender Responsive, Accessible, Courteous, and Effective Public Service”, fosters an understanding of how gender inequalities are compounded in the Philippine society. It also encourages an appreciation of a public servant’s role in identifying the barriers women and men face in accessing public services and developing strategies to overcome them.

The contest is open to all government employees. Those who are employed under job order or contract of service, as well as CSC employees and their relatives within the 3rd degree of consanguinity or affinity, are not qualified to join.

The participants must answer the question, “As a lingkod bayani (servant hero), how can you contribute to and ensure a gender responsive, accessible, courteous and effective public service?” The essay may be written in English or in Filipino and must not exceed 900 words. It must be written on A4-sized paper, double-spaced using Arial size 12 font.

Entries must be original. Thus, they must not have been included as an entry in any government–sponsored/administered essay writing contest nor published in any medium, either in printed material or posted in websites. Any form of plagiarism will result in the disqualification of an entry.  Hence, all quotes and references throughout the essay must be properly cited and clearly marked.

Essays may be submitted either in printed or electronic form. Printed entries must be sent via registered mail, courier, or personally delivered to the Gender and Development Secretariat c/o Office for Personnel Management and Development, Civil Service Commission, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Diliman, Quezon City.

On the other hand, electronic entries should be submitted in portable data format (PDF) and sent via e-mail to essay_2012@yahoo.com.ph. Only one entry per person shall be allowed.

Submission of entries is until August 3, 2012.

Entries will be judged according to appropriateness to contest theme, originality and creativity, style and organization, and language proficiency. The author of the winning essay will receive P30,000 while the second and third placers will bag P20,000 and P15,000, respectively.

The full contest guidelines may be accessed through the PCSA website at celebratepcsa.wordpress.com.

Every year, the bureaucracy celebrates PCSA to commemorate the birth of the Philippine civil service in September 1900. Through various activities, the PCSA aims to promote public service excellence and to highlight the contributions of state workers to national development.