Legarda Pushes Free Master’s Tuition, Reforms for 2.25M Government Workers

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda is championing investments in the skills of civil servants and reforms to enhance government efficiency, benefiting the nation's over 2.25 million public workers. As the country observes the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary this September, Legarda emphasized the need for better opportunities for government employees to improve their skills. "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 stated. As of June 2026, the Civil Service Commission reported 2,256,693 career and non-career government personnel. This year's anniversary theme is "Bawat Kawani, Lingkod Bayani: Puso, Dangal, at Galing Para sa Bayan" (Every Employee, Public Servant Hero: Heart, Honor, and Excellence for the Nation). Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, has filed measures focusing on professional development, merit-based performance, government accountability, and access to public information. Among these are Senate Bill No. 2099, the "Government Employees Free Master’s Degree Tuition Act," which aims to provide free tuition at state universities and colleges for government employees pursuing master's degrees, and Senate Bill No. 513, the "Bagong Dugong Lingkod Bayan Act," which seeks to establish a National Public Service College to develop 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. She is also pushing for 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, the "National Results-Based Governance Act," aims 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," she stated. She said effective performance measurement also requires access to reliable information and stronger safeguards against corruption. Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 523, the "Tapat na Paglilingkod Act," which seeks to institutionalize a national anti-corruption mainstreaming agenda and strengthen integrity and accountability mechanisms across government. Additionally, Senate Bill No. 304, the "Open Government Data Act," mandates the proactive and regular publication of government data relevant to policymaking and government operations. Legarda explained that these measures reflect her intent for civil service reforms, combining professional development with meritocracy, measurable performance, transparency, and accountability. "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," she added.