Senator Bong Go has filed a measure seeking to grant civil service eligibility to casual and contractual government employees who have rendered continuous and satisfactory service, aiming to address persistent job insecurity in the public sector.
Filed as Senate Bill No. 1786, or the Civil Service Eligibility for Casual and Contractual Employees Act, the proposal recognizes the contributions of thousands of non-permanent workers who fulfill essential roles in government agencies but remain outside the regular plantilla system.
“Hindi natin dapat pabayaan ang ating mga manggagawa na walang kasiguruhan sa kanilang kinabukasan. Mahalaga na magkaroon sila ng seguridad at tamang benepisyo para sa kanilang sakripisyo at serbisyo sa sambayanan,” Go said in a press release Thursday.
The bill seeks to grant qualified employees civil service eligibility, potentially paving the way for regularization and career advancement.
Go underscored that many of these workers serve as the “silent backbone” of government offices, sustaining operations despite limited benefits and uncertain employment status.
“Ang panukalang ito ay bunga ng pakikinig sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng iba’t ibang sektor. Mahalagang iakma ang ating mga batas sa kasalukuyang panahon at sa aktuwal na sitwasyon ng mga tao,” he explained.
Go emphasized that the measure aims to align labor policies with the realities of bureaucracy while addressing structural inequities faced by temporary workers.
“Patuloy nating tututukan at ipaglaban ang pangangalaga sa ating kapwa Pilipino dahil naniniwala ako na ang buhay ay katumbas ng kalusugan at buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he added.