What if a better government starts with better-trained public servants?

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 08, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Philippine Information Agency

PHILIPPINES – Every day, millions of Filipinos walk into government offices looking for answers, documents, assistance or simply a service that works.

Behind every transaction is a government employee and Senator Loren Legarda believes investing in that employee could also mean investing in better public service.

Legarda is pushing a proposal that would give more than 2.25 million government workers the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree tuition-free at state universities and colleges.

Under Senate Bill No. 2099, or the Government Employees Free Master’s Degree Tuition Act, the program aims to remove one of the biggest barriers to graduate education: cost.

For many public servants, pursuing a higher degree can mean balancing work, family and a tuition bill. But Legarda argues that when government workers gain new knowledge and skills, the benefits should not stop with them.

The classroom, in this case, could become an extension of the government office.

A worker trained in policy, management, technology or another specialized field could bring those lessons back to the workplace, potentially helping agencies craft better policies, improve transactions and make wiser decisions with public funds.

The numbers show just how far the proposal could reach. The Civil Service Commission counts 2,256,693 career and non-career government personnel as of June this year.

That means the proposal is not simply about free tuition. It is about reshaping how government invests in the people expected to deliver its services.

And Legarda wants that investment tied to merit, performance, transparency and accountability.

As the Philippines marks the 126th Civil Service Anniversary this September, the timing gives the proposal added meaning.

The celebration honors government workers as public servants but the bigger challenge is making sure they have the tools to live up to that title.

Because sometimes, improving government does not begin with a new building, a new system or a bigger budget.

It begins with the person sitting behind the desk, learning, improving, and becoming better at serving the people.