A total of 108 Civil Service Commission (CSC) field offices participated in the recently-concluded 2023 Field Directors Conference, equipping its field directors with new methods and strategies in leadership needed to address challenges on the ground. The assembly, conducted at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Conference Center in Tagaytay, was led by CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles, together with Commissioners Aileen Lourdes Lizada and Ryan Alvin Acosta. “As our frontliners in the field offices, your inputs and suggestions on our policies and services based on your experiences are most important for the CSC to truly become an organization that is able to deliver the services that the Filipino people deserve,” said Chairperson Nograles. He further stated that the field offices serve as more than just implementing units. They are essential partners and catalysts for meaningful change due to their direct connections to primary stakeholders unlike other units within the CSC. As such, the Office for Strategy Management organized the event with the aim of providing valuable leadership competencies and up-to-date strategies that align with the current HR trends. The goal was to facilitate the successful implementation of the CSC Strategy Map and Scorecard for 2024-2030, ensuring efficient and effective delivery. Topics discussed during the first day included updates on CSC’s accomplishments for the first quarter of the year and building appreciation for the ongoing CSC Strategic Planning, its status, and current developments. Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director Aldwin Urbina facilitated the learning session on the Study on Flexible Working Arrangements. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Ateneo CORD, NOMURA Research Institute, and Philippine Airlines regarding good practices involved in work-life integration and flexible working arrangements, which CSC approved through Resolution No. 2200209 promulgated on 18 May 2022. On the second day, all 85 participants were given updates on the Digital Transformation Roadmap and Initiatives being implemented by the Commission and the restructuring of the Office of the Assistant Commissioners. There were also discussions on the work instructions on MS Teams and on User Experience (UX) objectives, design, process, and tools. Lizada highlighted that the sessions are part of the united endeavor to make the organization smart and future-ready. “We hope we could make conferences like this as a part of our institutional strengthening mechanisms where we provide the platform to share experiences and continue to build our values for the benefit of the CSC,” said Commissioner Lizada. The two-day event also provided an opportunity for field directors to engage in discussions with the Commission regarding the implementation of Human Resource management policies. It also offered a platform for addressing concerns and challenges faced by the field offices in their daily operations. Acosta, for his part, conveyed his gratitude to the field directors for their efforts in reporting much-needed data. He expressed hope that they would continue this important contribution to assist the agency’s decision-making process in effectively addressing the aforementioned challenges and implementing data-driven policies. Nograles underscored the significance of field directors in effectively guiding their offices toward the envisioned outcomes that the CSC aims to attain.