Legarda pushes free master’s tuition, reforms for 2.25M gov’t workers

MANILA, Philippines — With more than 2.25 million government personnel providing public services nationwide, Sen. Loren Legarda is pushing for greater investment in the skills of civil servants and reforms that reward performance, measure results and strengthen accountability in government.

As the country marks the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary this September, Legarda said government workers should be given better opportunities to improve their skills while ensuring that competent and ethical employees are supported in performing their duties.

“When a government employee does their job well, people feel the difference. Transactions become faster, services improve, agencies provide clearer answers, and public funds are put to better use. If we demand high standards from public servants, the government should also be serious about giving them opportunities to improve,” Legarda said.

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READ: Loren Legarda praises enactment of stronger free college law

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The Civil Service Commission reported 2,256,693 career and non-career government personnel as of June 2026. This year’s anniversary carries the theme, “Bawat Kawani, Lingkod Bayani: Puso, Dangal, at Galing Para sa Bayan.”

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, has filed measures covering professional development, merit-based performance, government accountability and access to public information.

Among these is Senate Bill No. 2099, or the Government Employees Free Master’s Degree Tuition Act, which seeks to provide free tuition at state universities and colleges for government employees pursuing master’s degrees.

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She also filed Senate Bill No. 513, or the Bagong Dugong Lingkod Bayan Act, which seeks to establish a National Public Service College tasked with developing competent and ethical government leaders.

“Many government employees want to pursue further studies and expand their skills, but graduate education comes with costs. If the knowledge they gain can be used to develop better policies and services, the government should invest in their education,” Legarda said.

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Legarda is also seeking reforms in government performance evaluation.

Senate Bill No. 1850 seeks to establish and institutionalize a performance measurement system that promotes meritocracy in government. Senate Bill No. 515, or the National Results-Based Governance Act, seeks to strengthen monitoring and evaluation and promote the use of evidence in government programs and projects.

“Performance evaluation should have meaning. If the work is good, it should be recognized. If a program is not working, it should be identified and corrected immediately instead of continuing to fund it simply because it has become customary. Public funds should follow programs that actually work,” Legarda said.

She said effective performance measurement also requires access to reliable information and stronger safeguards against corruption.

Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 523, or the Tapat na Paglilingkod Act, which seeks to institutionalize a national anti-corruption mainstreaming agenda and strengthen integrity and accountability mechanisms across government.

Her Senate Bill No. 304, or the Open Government Data Act, meanwhile seeks to require the proactive and regular publication of government data relevant to policymaking and government operations.

Legarda said the measures reflect the civil service reforms she intends to pursue as committee chair, combining professional development with merit, measurable performance, transparency and accountability.

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“Regardless of how good a policy is, if its implementation system is weak, people will not feel its impact. That is why strengthening our government employees and the institutions they serve is important to ensure that every law, program and public fund allocated by the government results in services that genuinely benefit the people,” Legarda said.