MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 84 - REQUIRING ALL CONCERNED TO ADOPT THE DECENTRALIZATION OF SCHOLARSHIP SCREENING PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES

WHEREAS, all government offices are directed to streamline their functions and operations for purposes of efficiency and economy;  

WHEREAS, in support of the Local Government Code, the government is adopting the policy of decentralization for implementation of development policies, plans and programs;

WHEREAS, the Special Committee on Scholarship has deemed decentralization as imperative for the efficacious delivery of the foreign scholarship program;

WHEREAS, there is a need to allow regional and local nominees greater access to foreign scholarship opportunities;

WHEREAS, there is a need to develop in the agencies at the local level better understanding of the policies and thrusts of foreign-assisted scholarship and commitment to shared responsibilities in ensuring that the goals of foreign scholarship are achieved;

WHEREAS, nominees from subnational offices/bodies request that screening be conducted in their areas to reduce cost for transportation, board, lodging, and other incidental expenses incurred when they come to Metro Manila for screening;

WHEREAS, the Special Committee on Scholarship has approved in Resolution No. 1, dated 22 February 1990, the decentralization of the screening process.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order all agencies/offices of the national and local government to adopt the decentralization of screening process and the attached implementing guidelines.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety four.

ATTACHMENT

IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES ON THE REGIONAL PRE-SELECTION PROCESS FOR FOREIGN SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING

A BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

B ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANISM

a. It shall meet bi-weekly as a panel to assess/interview the nominees using the same assessment sheet adopted by the national screening committee.

b. It shall issue to all pre-qualified nominees the official nomination forms of the donor country.

c. It shall validate the point (on profile) rated by the Regional Desks.

d. It shall ensure that the best qualified candidate match international standards through the adoption of basic policies and criteria on pre-selection.

C. Implementation Arrangements

a. The RS shall make available the following forms for pre-selection procedures:

- assessment sheet
- certificate of pre-screening
- numbered official nomination/application forms
- physical/medical certificate
- certificate of non-withdrawal
- personal information sheet

e. The Desk Officer shall conduct an assessment of the nominees profile, scholastic record, and relevant work experience of the nominee; the RSC shall coordinate the interview portion of the pre-selection process.

f. On the day of the interview, the nominee shall be asked to accomplish a certificate of pre-screening.

g. The documents of the nominees are preferred to and reviewed by the members of the RSC. The nominees are interviewed based on the following criteria:

1. Knowledge of the subject matter

2. Communication skills

3. Attitude/behavior/maturity/logic, etc.

This refers to the overall attitude of the nominee including his enthusiasm and determination as projected during his interview.

4. Potential benefits

h. All nominees to a particular course shall be interviewed by a panel at one time and shall rank the nominees overall rating.

i. Qualified nominees will be advised by the screening coordinator to accomplish additional documents such as official application forms of the donor country, certificate of medical and physical examination and others depending on the requirements of the donor.

j. Where the expertise for highly technical fields of training is not available within NRO, outside specialists may be invited to sit in the screening.

a. The Special Committee on Scholarships (SCS), after evaluating the training offers from the donors, forwards invitations to programmed target institutions.

Invitations to target institutions (like LGUs, NGOs, POs, academe, Private Institutions, etc.) in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao areas are forwarded directly to these institutions.

Invitations to target institutions (like government line agencies/departments as well as private institutions which have Central Office in Manila are forwarded to the Central Office.

b. Target institutions (like LGUs, NGOs, POs, Academe, Private institutions, etc. in the Luzon area) submit their nomination letter and other supporting documents directly to the SCS - National Secretariat.

Target institutions (like LGUs, NGOs, POs, Academe, Private institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao areas) submit their nomination letter and other supporting documents to the NEDA-Region VII Regional Secretariat.

Target institutions (like government agencies/departments and private institutions with Central Office in Manila) whose nominee comes from the Visayas and Mindanao areas, submit their nomination letter to NEDA - Region VII. However, if the nominee comes from the Luzon area, the nomination letter and other supporting documents are forwarded to the SCS - National Secretariat.

c. The Regional Secretariat reviews/evaluates nomination papers.

d. The RSSC conducts interview as a panel.

e. If the nominee does not meet the minimum requirements of the pre-selection, the Regional Secretariat shall send a letter of regret to the nominee's agency in the region, copy furnished the SCS.

f. For nominees who pass the pre-selection, the regional screening coordinator issues the nomination/application forms to the nominees and advise them to transmit said official application forms to respective CO in Manila if form needs the Department head's signature. All other requirements are transmitted through NRO VII.

g. The duly accomplished nomination/application and medical forms together with the other pertinent papers (of nominees which do not need the Head's signature) are forwarded to the NEDA Region VII Regional Secretariat.

h. The Regional Secretariat transmits the accomplished forms and assessment sheets to SCS.

i. The SCS forwards the nomination of candidates to the donor embassy through DFA.

j. The SAS furnishes the donor embassy an advance copy of the official nomination.

Since 19.07.98.