Senator Camille Villar has urged the government to fill thousands of vacant posts and regularize job order (JO) and contractual workers who have been serving for years to make public service more efficient and cost-effective.
During the Senate budget deliberations for 2026, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) reported that over 83,000 first-level government positions remain unfilled and that qualification standards for many jobs have not been updated in 15 years.
“Every unfilled position means slower service, heavier workloads, and wasted taxpayer money,” Villar said. “The best way to make government more efficient is to empower the very people who keep it running, our job order and contractual workers who have been serving the public for years.”
Villar filed the “Regularization of Work Engagement in Government Service Act,” which grants permanent appointments and civil service eligibility to qualified contractual, casual, and job order workers.
Those who have served continuously for at least five years in national agencies, GOCCs, or SUCs, or ten years in LGUs, will be appointed to permanent plantilla positions.
Agencies will be required to coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management to adjust staffing structures accordingly.
“By filling unfilled positions and recognizing the contributions of those who have long served, we not only build efficiency but we also restore dignity in public service,” said Villar.IMT
