Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for free master’s degree tuition for government employees as part of efforts to improve the skills and performance of more than 2.25 million civil servants.
Legarda made the call as the country observes the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary this September.
The Civil Service Commission reported 2,256,693 career and non-career government personnel as of June 2026.
Among Legarda’s measures is Senate Bill 2099, or the Government Employees Free Master’s Degree Tuition Act, which seeks free tuition in state universities and colleges for government workers pursuing master’s degrees.
“Maraming kawani ang gustong mag-aral pa at palawakin ang kanilang kakayahan, pero may gastos na kaakibat ang graduate education,” Legarda said.
The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, is also seeking changes in how government workers and programs are evaluated.
Senate Bill 1850 seeks to institutionalize a merit-based performance measurement system, while SB 515, or the National Results-Based Governance Act, aims to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of government programs.
Legarda also filed SB 523, or the Tapat na Paglilingkod Act, which seeks stronger anti-corruption and accountability measures, and SB 304, or the Open Government Data Act, which would require the regular publication of government data.
“Kung mahusay ang trabaho, dapat kinikilala. Kung may programa namang hindi gumagana, dapat makita agad, maitama, at hindi patuloy na pondohan,” she said.IMT
