CSC, House of Representatives launch landmark compendium to strengthen Philippine public service

Published: 14 October 2026

In a milestone collaboration aimed at strengthening the foundations of Philippine public service, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the House of Representatives officially launched Fortifying Policy Infrastructures of Public Service: A Compendium of Philippine Civil Service Laws, Executive Issuances, and Judicial Decisions (1900-2025) at the Legislative Library, Archives and Museum Building of the House of Representatives.

Launched under the leadership of CSC Chairperson Marilyn B. Yap and House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" G. Dy III, the landmark three-volume publication marks the first-ever collaboration between the two institutions in producing a comprehensive collection of civil service laws, executive issuances, and judicial decisions spanning 125 years.

The event was attended by Rep. Amado Carlos A. Bolilia IV, Chairperson of the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, who delivered the closing remarks.

The compendium brings together legal and policy references that have shaped the Philippine civil service since 1900, providing government officials, human resource practitioners, legislators, policymakers, legal professionals, researchers, and students with a reliable resource for informed decision-making, institutional accountability, and good governance.

In her message, Chairperson Yap emphasized the importance of understanding the evolution of laws and policies to guide reforms and build stronger government institutions.

"Laws, policies, and regulations must become transformative instruments to make government serve the people and the nation better -- kailangang maging mas mapagbagong mga instrumento at pamamaraan ang mga polisiya at batas upang ang pamahalaan ay magsilbing mas mahusay, mas matapat, at mas napagkakatiwalaan ng taumbayan," she said.

She further stressed that preserving and organizing these references allows government institutions to learn from the past, address gaps in existing policies, and develop more responsive approaches to the changing needs of the Filipino people.

In his message delivered during the launch, House Speaker Dy likewise underscored the importance of accessible and reliable legal references in strengthening public institutions and supporting evidence-based policymaking.

"Evidence-based policymaking begins with doing our homework. We must study the law, examine the facts, and listen to those who carry out public policy every day," the Speaker said in his message.

"A reliable reference helps us ask better questions and make informed choices," he added.

The Speaker also highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of public servants, promoting meritocracy, and ensuring fairness and accountability in government personnel decisions.

"Merit must guide recruitment and promotion. Competence and integrity must carry weight in every personnel decision," he emphasized.

The publication is organized into three volumes covering the development of the Philippine civil service from 1900 to 2025.

Volume I: Laws compiles legislative enactments governing the civil service and public administration.

Volume II: Executive Issuances brings together executive orders, presidential decrees, administrative orders, proclamations, and other executive issuances, including an annex containing the Philippine Constitution.

Volume III: Judicial Decisions features significant Supreme Court rulings that have interpreted, clarified, and strengthened the legal foundations of the Philippine civil service.

Available in printed and digital formats, the compendium is intended to make these important references more accessible to government agencies, public servants, researchers, and other stakeholders nationwide.

By consolidating these materials into one comprehensive resource, the publication supports legislative research, legal review, policy development, human resource management, and institutional learning across the public sector.

The publication is the result of a joint undertaking between the CSC and the House of Representatives, with the active involvement of the House's Legislative Information Resources Management Department (LIRMD) and Legal Affairs Department (LAD).

Speaker Dy commended the teams behind the publication, recognizing the extensive research, review, and coordination required to complete the three-volume collection.

"I commend LIRMD, LAD, and the Civil Service Commission for working together on this publication. You have given our institution a useful resource and shown the value of cooperation across offices," he said in his message.

Chairperson Yap likewise expressed her appreciation to the House leadership, the Secretariat, and the CSC and House publication teams for their contributions to the publication.

Looking ahead, she expressed optimism for continued collaboration between the two institutions toward strengthening the policy foundations of government service.

"We look forward to more collaborative efforts in the years ahead with the House of Representatives and its Secretariat toward fortifying policy infrastructures of the public service," Chairperson Yap said.

More than a collection of laws and policies, the compendium reflects the shared commitment of the CSC and the House of Representatives to building a more informed, responsive, professional, and accountable civil service.

*as of June 2026