SENATOR Loren Legarda is pushing a package of civil service reforms, including free master’s degree tuition for government employees, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s 2.25-million-strong public workforce.

In line with the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary this September, Legarda said honoring government workers should go beyond recognition and include policies that expand professional development, reward merit, and strengthen accountability across public institutions.

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

Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, filed 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.

She said many civil servants want to pursue graduate studies but are discouraged by the cost, adding that investing in their education would translate into better policymaking and improved public service.

The senator also introduced Senate Bill No. 513, or the Bagong Dugong Lingkod Bayan Act, which proposes the creation of a National Public Service College to develop competent and ethical government leaders.

Beyond education, Legarda is advocating reforms in government performance evaluation.

Senate Bill No. 1850 seeks to institutionalize a merit-based performance measurement system, while Senate Bill No. 515, or the National Results-Based Governance Act, aims to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making in government programs.

She said performance assessments should recognize effective employees while identifying underperforming programs that need correction, stressing that public funds should support initiatives that deliver measurable results.

To strengthen transparency and integrity, Legarda also filed Senate Bill No. 523, or the Tapat na Paglilingkod Act, which seeks to institutionalize anti-corruption measures across government, and Senate Bill No. 304, or the Open Government Data Act, which would require the proactive publication of government policy and operational data