MANILA – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is preparing reforms aimed at speeding up government recruitment and improving its oversight of long-vacant positions and delayed promotions across agencies.

CSC Chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap said during a Senate budget hearing that the commission is moving toward a competency-based hiring system, which would assess whether applicants have the specific skills required for a position earlier in the recruitment process.

The CSC hopes to make the approach an official policy in 2027.

Under the proposed system, agencies would look beyond minimum requirements such as education, training, eligibility and experience and also assess applicants against the technical or functional competencies needed for a particular job.

Barua-Yap cited internal audit positions as an example, saying applicants could be screened early for relevant auditing competencies instead of proceeding through the entire recruitment process despite lacking the required technical background.

The shift builds on CSC Resolution No. 2600005, issued in January 2026, which sets guidelines for government agencies to develop competency-based human resource management systems covering recruitment, performance management, employee development, rewards and other personnel functions.

The CSC said the framework is designed to help agencies match employees and applicants with positions based on clearly defined core, leadership and technical competencies.

The commission is also developing a human resource information system that Barua-Yap said could give the CSC more direct access to personnel records, job vacancies, publication of openings and promotion proceedings across government agencies.

The proposed system would allow the commission to identify positions that remain unfilled and check whether qualified personnel within an agency may be eligible for promotion.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo raised the issue during the hearing, citing thousands of funded plantilla positions that remain vacant and complaints from government employees who say they have repeatedly been passed over for promotion.

Barua-Yap said appointment and promotion decisions ultimately remain with the heads of government agencies under the current system.

She added that the CSC receives complaints involving promotion decisions, but appointing authorities retain discretion in choosing candidates as long as civil service qualification requirements are followed.

The planned digital system would also include records of agency human resource merit promotion and selection boards, which the CSC said could help it identify staffing gaps and determine where remedial action may be needed.

Alongside the new system, the commission is reviewing government qualification standards and strengthening the certification of human resource officers as part of its transition toward competency-based personnel management.

The CSC earlier partnered with the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance to modernize qualification standards used for recruitment, selection, placement and career advancement in government.

The reforms were discussed as the CSC defended its proposed 2027 budget before the Senate Committee on Finance on September 28. Senate records confirm that the hearing covered the proposed budget of the CSC and its attached agency.

During the hearing, the CSC also sought the restoration of ₱783 million in unfunded requirements, including funding for modernization and field operations.

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