Bagong Dugong Lingkod Bayan Act

Offer olly's. TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 14 A11:40 SENATE RECEIVED 3Y S. No. — Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE COLLEGE, TO DEVELOP A NEW GENERATION OF COMPETENT AND ETHICAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE In 2024, the Philippine government workforce revealed a compelling demographic profile one that underscores both institutional strengths and generational vulnerabilities. According to data from the Civil Service Commission (CSC), employees aged 18 to 25 constituted only 1.56% of the total government workforce, while those aged 26 to 35 comprised 29.63%. Together, these youth and young adult age groups (18-35) make up just 31.19% of the public sector. Despite being hailed as the future of public service, they remain underrepresented in key leadership tracks. This pattern holds within the 2nd Level Career Service-comprising technical, supervisory, and management positions— where individuals aged 18 to 35 also account for only 31.15%. In stark contrast, public servants aged 36 and above dominate 68.81% of the workforce and 68.85% of these higher-level career roles. The gap widens further in the realm of political leadership: only 16.74% of elective positions are held by individuals aged 18 to 35, while 83.26% are occupied by those aged 36 to 65. ' Inventory of Government Human Resource - Career and Non-Career (as of JUNE 30, 2024).

This disproportionate demographic structure highlights a systemic constraint in the preparation and integration of young Filipinos into the decision-making core of government. While the youth are encouraged to lead, they are rarely positioned or equipped to do so. As a result, policy direction and governance priorities remain largely shaped by older generations, often without sufficient input from those who will live longest with the consequences of today's decisions. Gat. Jose Rizal's timeless assertion that "The youth is the hope of our future" thus remains more aspirational than actualized. Although young Filipinos are urged to enter public service, they continue to face deep-rooted institutional barriers-from limited training pipelines and misaligned curricula to lack of exposure to public governance. Worse, reforms such as proposals to lower the retirement age, though well-meaning, do little to counterbalance the aging profile of government institutions or accelerate youth empowerment. The challenge is compounded by long-standing deficiencies within the civil service itself: gaps in technical expertise, recurring ethical lapses, and managerial inefficiencies that erode public trust. Many new hires struggle to cope with operational demands, while mid- and senior-level officials are often unequipped for strategic planning, digital governance, or data-driven implementation. These challenges undermine the efficiency, responsiveness, and credibility of government. To confront these issues, structural and generational reforms are essential- reforms that go beyond ad hoc training and instead build a systematic, merit-based, and future-facing pipeline of capable civil servants. The "Bagong Dugong Lingkod Bayan Act" seeks to establish the National Public Service College (NPSC) —a premier institution for training competent, ethical, and forward-thinking government leaders. Developed with key agencies, its curriculum will cover constitutional governance, public policy, data analytics, and regulatory compliance, with a required one-year government internship. To promote access, the NPSC will offer free education and living stipends. Graduates will receive Civil Service Commission Level II eligibility, enabling entry into mid-level government roles. The goal: build a merit-based pool of young leaders ready to shape public service.

Eventually, CHED may adopt the NPSC model for broader use in higher education institutions, expanding access to service-driven programs nationwide. The NPSC is a strategic investment in the future of Philippine governance. It seeks to bridge the generational divide, professionalize government operations, and reorient the civil service toward long-term national development. Through this reform, the State affirms its belief in the transformative capacity of the Filipino youth-not merely as beneficiaries of policy but as its authors and stewards. In a time of global volatility and domestic transition, the need for agile, values- driven, and forward-thinking public servants has never been greater. The NPSC answers this call, offering the nation a path toward a more dynamic, inclusive, and resilient government-one prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and one that truly reflects the promise of its people. LOREN LEGARDA

Offire of t TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) JUL 14 A11:40 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED B: S. No._ 513 Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE COLLEGE, TO DEVELOP A NEW GENERATION OF COMPETENT AND ETHICAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the "Bagong Dugong

2 Lingkod Bayan Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies - It is the policy of the State to produce

nationalistic, ethical, highly technical, competent, and diligent public servants. To achieve this, the State shall establish, maintain, support, and operate a National Public 6 Service College to train and develop students in the principles of nationality, ethical 7 standards, and technical knowledge in government operations. It is the State's vision 8 for these graduates to lead the nation in the future with integrity and love for the country.

Sec. 3. Establishment of the National Public Service College - There is hereby

established a National Public Service College (NPSC), which will serve as the premier institution for training and developing future civil servants, with a special focus on technical, management, and administrative government work.

Sec. 4. National Public Service College Board - The NPSC Board is hereby

created, composed of the following officials: a. Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (President)

b. Undersecretary in the Office of the President of the Philippines (Member) c. President of the Development Academy of the Philippines (Member) d. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (Member) e. Department of Budget and Management (Member) An official whose responsibilities and expertise encompass matters directly or 7 primarily related to learning, or technical, management, and administrative 8 operations, may be designated to contribute optimally to the specialized nature of the 9 education envisioned by the NPSC. This official must hold a rank no lower than that 10 of a Department Undersecretary, or its equivalent, and shall serve in a permanent 11 capacity.

Sec. 5. Support Agencies - The following agencies shall provide technical

support for curriculum development and overall policy formulation: a. Department of Economy, Planning, and Development b. Department of Science and Technology c. Department of Social Welfare and Development d. Department of Agriculture e. Department of Justice f. Department of the Interior and Local Government g. Department of Environment and Natural Resources h. Department of Information and Communications Technology i. Department of Finance j. Department of National Defense k. Commission on Audit 1. National Research Council of the Philippines m. Commission on Human Rights n. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts o. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples p. The Philippine Commission on Women q. Government Procurement Policy Board Department Secretaries or their designated officials, who must hold a rank not lower than Director III or equivalent, shall represent their respective agencies. These

1 officials shall sit in a permanent capacity, and their actions shall be considered as 2 actions of their principals. The Board and the Support Agencies shall meet at least once a year to discuss 4 the developments, plans and the performance of the NPSC. In such a meeting, the Board may propose the inclusion of more members of the Support Group in so far as 6 their expertise is necessitated by improvements in the curriculum.

Sec. 6. Secretariat - The Civil Service Commission's - Civil Service Institute

(CSC-CSI) shall act as the secretariat and implement the policies of the NPSC Board. 9 It may expand its workforce, in accordance with law, to accommodate the new tasks. 10 The CSC-CSI shall continue its functions as the center for comprehensive training and development programs for government officials and employees.

Sec. 7. Curriculum - A comprehensive curriculum shall be formulated through

the combined expertise of the NPSC Board and Support Agencies. The curriculum shall focus on training students in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, laws, regulations, practical application of technical, management, and administrative knowledge, including policy making, strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, digitization, among 17 other knowledge pertinent to future civil servants. In view of its specialized nature, the curriculum to be implemented in the NPSC shall be an exception to the rules provided by the CHED. General education subjects will not be included under this curriculum.

Sec. 8. Appropriation - There shall be an annual appropriation under the CSC

for the requirements and operation of the NPSC Board and the NPSC.

Sec. 9. Location, Facilities and Academe - The NPSC shall be hosted at the

auspices of the DAP. Special appropriations shall be provided to DAP for funding the facilities, faculty, and equipment of the NPSC, to be used exclusively for the said purposes. The workforce necessary for the operation thereof shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Sec. 10. Faculty and Staff Recruitment - The NPSC is committed to recruiting

only the most qualified faculty and staff. All teaching personnel must possess a minimum of ten (10) years of actual government personnel experience. The NPSC will provide continuous training and development to ensure that faculty maintain the

1 highest standards of qualifications and expertise. Incentives will be offered to attract 2 and retain top educators and professionals. To preserve the highly technical nature of the NPSC, the NPSC Board will 4 establish detailed guidelines to ensure that strict academic standards are upheld. The NPSC Board will oversee a rigorous, performance-based engagement process for NPSC professors. To prevent stagnation and promote continuous excellence in public 7 service, tenure positions will be limited and contingent upon proven integrity, ongoing professional development, demonstrated subject matter expertise, scientific, technical, academic, and public service success.

Sec. 11. Core Values - The NPSC shall be founded on the highest standards of

integrity, public service, and nationalism. Integrity shall serve as a core institutional principle that informs the governance, curriculum, admissions, faculty selection, training delivery, and internal accountability systems of NPSC. The NPSC shall ensure that ethical conduct, transparency, and public accountability are embedded in every stage of its operations, from the recruitment and retention of students and faculty, to the evaluation of academic and field performance, to post-graduate career support. Officials, faculty members, and staff 18 shall be chosen based on a proven record of ethical public service, and shall serve as mentors and exemplars of moral leadership. All students shall undergo continuous values formation and ethics training, including courses on anti-corruption, good governance, and moral courage in public decision-making. The College shall also adopt internal mechanisms for integrity assurance and institutional safeguards against political interference. The College shall likewise promote the virtues of humility, modesty, and simplicity as essential traits of public service. Students shall be taught to reject entitlement, avoid extravagance, and embrace the discipline of humble leadership 27 grounded in service to the nation and solidarity with the people. In all aspects of its mission, the NPSC shall cultivate a deep sense of civic duty, professional excellence, 29 and principled leadership, ensuring that its graduates serve the Republic with 30 competence, honor, and unwavering integrity.

Sec. 12. Digitalization - The NPSC shall integrate the latest trends and

32 advancements in digitalization and data analytics into its curriculum. This integration

1 shall ensure that students are proficient in modern technologies, evidence-based 2 decision making, and other methodologies relevant to government operations.

Sec. 13. Admission Criteria, Selection & Retention, Process - The NPSC Board

4 shall establish clear criteria for admission, including academic qualifications, entrance 5 examinations, and other selection methods. The NPSC shall also formulate the 6 retention, disqualification, and post-graduation conditions, including the mandatory 7 length of service to the government of NPSC graduates.

Sec. 14. Non-Discrimination and Merit-Based Admission - The NPSC shall

9 enforce a strict non-discrimination policy across all operations, including admissions, 10 hiring, and student services, ensuring no individual is discriminated against based on 11 ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, or any characteristic unrelated to merit and performance. The NPSC shall actively promote diversity within its community and implement outreach programs to encourage applications from underrepresented groups. Support for economically disadvantaged students shall be provided through grants, and other financial aid beyond what is already granted under this Act.

Sec. 15. Commencement of Operations - The NPSC shall commence operations

not later than five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act. Immediately before the first year of its operation, the NPSC shall conduct a nationwide entrance examination 20 to admit the initial 200 students into the program and every year thereafter. The population size of the NPSC shall be gradually increased by the NPSC Board.

Sec. 16. Free Education and Stipend - In accordance with Republic Act No.

10931, the NPSC shall be free for all accepted Filipino students. All accepted students shall receive a monthly living stipend as may be determined by the Board.

Sec. 17. Research and Development - The NPSC shall promote research and

development in public administration, governance, and related fields. Capstone projects of NPSC Students shall be focused on improving governmental activities, policies, and processes to be formally endorsed to the DAP for publication and endorsement to relevant agencies. Funding shall be allocated for research projects and publications.

Sec. 18. Internship Requirement - Before graduation, all students shall

complete a one-year internship in government agencies, following rules enacted by

1 the Board. Apprenticeship salaries shall be provided by the agencies. Such internships 2 shall be considered valid forms of training required in government employment.

Sec. 19. Civil Service Eligibility - All graduates of the NPSC will automatically be

4 granted CSC Level II Eligibility. Government agencies are encouraged to hire these 5 graduates subject to their required qualifications.

Sec. 20. Alumni Network and Career Support - The NPSC shall establish an

7 alumni network to support graduates in their careers, promote continuous professional 8 development, and monitor the long-term overall performance of the graduates of the 9 college.

Sec. 21. Collaboration with Other Institutions - The NPSC shall encourage

11 collaboration with other educational institutions, government agencies, and international bodies for research, internships, and exchange programs.

Sec. 22. Monitoring and Evaluation - The NPSC shall implement a system for

monitoring and evaluating the performance of students, faculty, and the institution. 15 Key performance indicators and benchmarks shall be established, implemented, and 16 monitored. The CHED shall conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the 17 NPSC, adopt the best practices gained, and shall prepare a similar and accessible 18 curriculum for other private and public higher education institutions.

Sec. 23. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is held to be invalid

20 or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected, and shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 24. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,