Government agencies nationwide earned praise from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) after nominations for the 2026 Gawad Lingkod Bayani soared by 25 percent, reflecting a growing commitment to honoring exemplary public servants.
The CSC’s Gawad Lingkod Bayani recognizes outstanding civil servants who embody the core values of Puso, Dangal, and Galing. This year, total nominations climbed to 710, up from 567 in 2025.
CSC Chairperson Marilyn B. Yap attributes this upward trend to a stronger culture of recognition across the bureaucracy.
“The increase shows that more agencies are embracing the importance of recognizing employees whose integrity, professionalism, and ethical service make a meaningful difference for Filipinos,” said Chairperson Yap.
Of the total nominations received, 343 were for the Gawad Pagasa, 250 for the Gawad Dangal ng Bayan, and 117 for the Gawad Lingkod Bayan ng Pangulo.
After the initial screening, the CSC’s Regional Offices brought together their Regional Committees on Awards (RCA). The committees reviewed the nominees and chose 219 regional qualifiers, which is up from the 202 qualifiers they had in 2025.
The next phase of the selection process is already underway as the National Committees on Awards convene to evaluate these regional qualifiers and select the national semi-finalists.
The National Committees on Awards are composed of presidential appointees, CSC members, heads of constitutional bodies, and distinguished Filipino citizens from the private sector.
Once the first deliberations wrap up, the CSC will gather public feedback, verify the nominees’ achievements, and check their records with government agencies to make sure everyone has a clean legal background.
The results of the background investigation, public feedback, and clearances will be presented during the second round of deliberations.
Based on these comprehensive reviews, the winners of the Gawad Pagasa and Gawad Dangal ng Bayan will be chosen. Meanwhile, the finalists for the Gawad Lingkod Bayan ng Pangulo will be forwarded to the Office of the President for final vetting and approval.
The awards will be officially conferred during the Pagpupugay, a major highlight of the month-long Philippine Civil Service Anniversary celebration in September.**
