Over 700 applicants to take 2021 PNPA admission test in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A total of  716 examinees here are scheduled to take the Philippine National Police Academy Cadet Admission Test (PNPACAT) on Sunday, March 7, and Monday, March 8, the first step in pursuing their dream of joining government service.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Benigno Balisis, the chief examiner in Cebu, said the examination that will be held at the University of Cebu Banilad Campus is 200 items long and is scheduled for three hour.

Examinees will be assigned to a particular exam schedule set from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said that those who will pass the qualifying exam will later on be required to undergo physical and mental screening before they can be admitted for training.

Qualified cadets will become full scholars of the government and will get to enjoy several privileges that will include free lodging and food and at least P38,000 in monthly allowances.

“Usa ni ka dakong oportunidad para sa atoang kabatan-onan nga maka skwela ka og libre and, at the same time, pagkahuman sa imoha nga graduation mahimo ka nga opisyal sa PNP, sa BFP, ug sa BJMP. No need nga mangapply paka because you will become automatically an officer,” he said.

(This is a big opportunity for our youth to avail of free education and become an officer of the PNP, BFP, and BJMP when you graduate.  There is no need to apply for the post because you automatically become an officer.)

But unlike in other admission tests, Parilla said that the PNPACAT does not require a passing grade.

Instead, examinees will be ranked based on their scores and only the top 1, 000 from this year’s 26, 200 examinees coming from around the country will be admitted for training.

Parilla said that only the best of the best from among these 1, 000 cadets are expected to graduate from the academy.

“Many are called but few are chosen. Among those chosen few, only the best will remain.” Parilla said.

Earlier, PNPA opened its pre-qualification process for its 2021 examinations.

Those who were prequalified were Filipino citizens aged 18 to 22-years-old and should have graduated from senior high school or college.  Males should at least be 5’4 tall while females are 5’2 tall.

Applicants who are able to show proof that they graduated with Latin honors or highest honors are exempt from the examination.

For the rest of the applicants, they are advised to bring a pencil, sharpeners, identification cards, a duly accomplished application form, certificate of consent, and medical certificates when they visit the examination venue.

Balisis said that they will also entertain walk-in applicants as possible replacements for those who are scheduled to take the examination but would fail to show up.

As much as possible, he said that they will try their best to put to use all of the 716 forms that they have prepared for this year’s admission test. / dcb