Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders
The government is set to implement new qualification standards to ready the civil service for future challenges.
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A landmark collaboration between the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman formally commenced today, initiating the development of new Qualification Standards (QS) that will modernize how government agencies will recruit, select, and develop talent. The initiative signals a decisive move toward building a more agile, professional, and future-ready Philippine bureaucracy capable of meeting the evolving demands of governance.
Chairperson Marilyn B. Yap and UP Diliman Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II led the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, joined by CSC Assistant Commissioner for Human Resource Governance Hiro V. Masuda, UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) Dean Kristoffer B. Berse, and Professorial Lecturer Ma. Oliva Domingo, along with other officials from both institutions.
“This initiative is a critical step in aligning the QS with the present and future demands of governance,” Chairperson Yap emphasized.
A long overdue upgrade
For nearly three decades, the 1997 Qualification Standards Manual has served as the principal reference for government recruitment and promotion. Yet the public sector now operates in an era profoundly shaped by digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. These changes underscore the need for a more modern, competency-based framework that reflects the actual skills, behaviors, and expertise required in the public sector.
Updating the QS will strengthen the professionalization of government service, allowing agencies to better identify talent, match competencies with roles, and uphold merit-based leadership and governance.
A three-year, evidence-based overhaul
The project will develop Revised Qualification Standards for 1916 Occupational Services through a six-phase, research-driven process. QS for three (3) occupational services will be developed in Year I and the rest of 16 occupational services for Years II and III.
Leading the initiative is NCPAG Dean Kristoffer B. Berse as Project Lead through the Governance Reform, Innovation, and Transformation Research Laboratories (GRIT Labs) and select Faculty members serving as Subject Matter Experts. The project team will:
• Conduct a comprehensive review of legal and regulatory frameworks on QS;
• Benchmark Philippine standards against industry-leading practices and international models; and
• Perform a gap analysis to determine where existing QS no longer reflect actual competencies required in government jobs.
Preparing the workforce of tomorrow
Once completed, the updated Qualification Standards will provide a modern framework that guides agencies in assessing education, training, experience, and competencies. More importantly, the new QS will help agencies attract mission-driven individuals, develop high-performing teams, and retain talent capable of delivering more efficient, effective, and citizen-centered public service.
