A competent, capable and dedicated civil service corps is a vital element in effective governance, that is, in turn, the key driver in the growth and prosperity of a nation.

This September marks the observance of the 124th anniversary of the Philippine civil service with the theme, Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future Ready Servant-Heroes. Evidently, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) aspires to eventually join the elite ranks of countries that, by dint of exemplary governance, have attained preeminent prosperity. This year’s theme beams the spotlight on capacity building that starts with individual talent development.

For such individuals to thrive, an environment that fosters excellence is a vital prerequisite. Several national agencies and local government units levelled up their organizational capabilities by installing rigorous processes of quality management. This is pursuant to the Republic Act 9013, the Philippine Quality Award Act which is aligned with world-class programs such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award established by the US Congress in 1987.

Among those that have received recognition for Commitment to Quality Management are the National Statistics Office, presently known as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region XI and Region IV-A offices, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XII, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Among local government units, the City Government of Marikina has been cited for Proficiency in Quality Management. Cited for Commitment to Quality Management were the City Government of Makati and the City Government of Tanauan.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has institutionalized an annual Honor Awards Program comprising of the Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan (Servant of the Nation), the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or Dangal ng Bayan, and the Pag-asa ng Bayan, or Hope of the Nation.

The Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan recognizes “exceptional contributions through innovative ideas or impactful actions of national significance, particularly in the areas of public interest, security and patrimony.” The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to those who have exemplified adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The Pag-asa ng Bayan Award is given to those who have contributed to beneficial programs in specific government agencies.

As it aspires toward attaining greater heights, the CSC may also wish to benchmark itself with global excellence standards such as the International Civil Service Effectiveness Index (InCISE) established by the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government in 2019. The InCISE rated 38 countries on “(c)ore executive functions including policy-making and fiscal and financial management services” and “mission support facilities including human resource management (HR) and information technology.”

The top 10 countries in its honor roll were: England, New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden. Particularly instructive is the example set by South Korea which “takes the top spot in transparency of public spending and budget practices.” It also excelled in human resource management. Such excellence in governance manifests the existence of a vibrant meritocracy.

Truly, the CSC can achieve much by aligning itself with best practices in talent development and management that enables the country’s civil servants to attain world-class competencies.