BRIEF BACKGROUND
In accordance with its constitutional mandate to adopt measures to promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, and courtesy in the civil service, as well as to strengthen the merit and awards systems, the Civil Service Commission administers the Honor Awards Program (HAP). From the program’s beginnings in 1959, it has evolved into a major mechanism to recognize and reward state officials and employees for their outstanding contributions and achievements in the delivery of public service.
MILESTONES
1959
The Employee Suggestions and Incentives Awards System (ESIAS) came into existence under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 2260 or the Civil Service Act of 1959 to award public servants for extraordinary acts or services that contributed to the efficiency, economy, and improvement of government operations.
1966
The ESIAS was implemented and five (5) individuals were cited as outstanding employees in the civil service.
1975
The Civil Service Commission was reorganized by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 807. Section 33 of P.D. No. 807 set new rules and guidelines of the ESIAS and modified the types of honor awards as follows: Presidential Lingkod Bayan and Silangan Awards, the Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award, and the Agency or Kapwa Award.
1988
President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 334 to institute the Presidential Awards for Outstanding Public Service, namely: the Lingkod Bayan Award and Silangan Award.
1989
Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, instituted eight (8) norms of conduct for public officials and employees and the conferment of awards to deserving public servants. The Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or the Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to a public official or employee who has demonstrated exemplary service and conduct on the basis of his/her observance of the norms of conduct specified in the Act.
Based on the Omnibus Rules and Regulations Implementing Book V of Executive Order No. 292 or the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, the honor awards shall consist of the following categories: Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, the Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award, and the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or the Dangal ng Bayan Award.
1992
Executive Order No. 508 revoked E.O. No. 334 and instituted the Lingkod Bayan Award as the Presidential Award for Outstanding Public Service.
1993
President Fidel V. Ramos amended Executive Order No. 508 with E.O. No. 77, underscoring the legal basis of the Lingkod Bayan Award to be Section 35, Book V of E.O. No. 292, the Administrative Code of 1987.
2009
The Honor Awards Program celebrated its 50th anniversary with the theme: “50 Years of Honoring Our Heroes in Republic Service”. A total of 343 Lingkod
Bayan awards, 206 Dangal ng Bayan awards, and 214 Pagasa awards have been conferred from 1966 to 2009.
2010
On his first year as head of state, President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the awards. During the rites, he noted that group awardees received a modest cash reward which still had to be divided among themselves. The President right then and there committed not only to augment but to double the monetary reward for the bureaucracy’s exemplars.
2012
In June 2012, the CSC established the Lingkod Bayani Network (LBNet), which serves as the association of the Philippine government’s honor awardees. LBNet’s primary duty is to serve as a network of support for fellow awardees in their continuing pursuit of excellence, professionalism, and meritocracy in the Philippine bureaucracy.
The late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government was the guest of honor during the inauguration of the Lingkod Bayani Network. He was one of the first members of the association and original signatory to the LBNet Manifesto.
2013
To address the need to give due recognition to public servants who died while performing their functions, the CSC confers the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani (PLBi). The recognition aims to lessen the impact of the loss of these unsung heroes to the families they left behind. CSC Resolution No. 1302553 issued on 16 December 2013, provided PLBi guidelines.
On 28 November 2014, CSC issued Resolution No. 1401700 amending Item II of the Implementing Guidelines of the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani. It included employees occupying permanent, elective, contractual, casual, and co-terminous positions as well as civilian or non-uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as beneficiaries of the program.
Parangal, Iskolarsyip, at Tulong Pinansiyal are the three components of the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani. The CSC believes that these are the least the government could give to repay the loyal, honest, and hardworking civil servants who had given the ultimate sacrifice for the nation—their lives.
2019
The Commission through CSC Resolution No. 1900345 dated 28 March 2019 and CSC Resolution No. 1900838 dated 16 July 2019, respectively, approved the increase in cash reward of group members of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan and CSC Pagasa to PHP100,000 per group member as incentive for their significant contributions to public service.
On its 60th year of honoring the country’s servant heroes, the Honor Awards Program has conferred the Presidential Lingkod Bayan to 281 exemplars, the CSC Pagasa to 309 recipients, and Dangal ng Bayan to 297 awardees.
ANNUAL SEARCH FOR OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT WORKERS
The Civil Service Commission conducts the annual Search for Outstanding Government Workers to recognize deserving public servants who excel in their respective fields or serve as models of exemplary behavior. As part of the government’s rewards and incentives mechanism under the Honor Awards Program (HAP), the prestigious Search aims to motivate and inspire state employees to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.
The Search culminates with the conferment of awards to deserving public servants during the Philippine Civil Service Anniversary celebration in September. The awards are conferred by the President of the Republic of the Philippines as the highest official, or the Executive Secretary should the President be unable to grace the event.
There are three award categories: the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award and Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award for outstanding work performance, and the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or the Dangal ng Bayan Award for exemplary behavior.
Award Categories
1. For Outstanding Work Performance
a. Presidential Lingkod Bayan (PLB) Award is conferred on an individual or group comprised of five (5) members for exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security, and patrimony.
b. Civil Service Commission Pagasa (Pagasa) Award is conferred to an individual or group comprised of five (5) members for outstanding contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefit more than one department of the government.
2. For Exemplary Ethical Behavior
Outstanding Public Officials and Employees or Dangal ng Bayan (DnB) Award is conferred to an individual for performance of an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of observance of the eight norms of conduct provided under Republic Act No. 6713:
1. Commitment to Public Interest
2. Professionalism
3. Justness and Sincerity
4. Political Neutrality
5. Responsiveness to the Public
6. Nationalism and Patriotism
7. Commitment to Democracy
8. Simple Living
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Related content:
CSC Resolution No. 2100501 (Guidelines on the 2021 Search for Outstanding Government Workers and the Years Thereafter)
Get to know the awardees in the Hall of Outstanding Government Workers (2019, 2020, 2021)
The stories and contributions of the awardees are chronicled in the book "Far From the Ordinary". Click to access the 2017, 2018, and 2019 edition.
The CSC features the honor awardees through the monthly episodes of Lingkod Bayan Diaries and HAP Story. Watch the videos from the CSC's official YouTube channel. Don't forget to like and subscribe and hit the notification bell button to get updated on the latest video releases from CSC.
