Guidelines for Presidential and CSC Public Service Awards

Legal basis and program structure

The Presidential Award for Outstanding Public Service was instituted under Executive Order No. 334 (18 August 1988) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (7 November 1988).
Section 35, Chapter 5 of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), as amended, established the government-wide Employee Suggestions and Incentive Award System, effective 23 November 1989.
The circular revises prior implementing guidelines by referencing CSC M.C. No. 59, s. 1990 (27 December 1990) on the search for these awardees, to conform with existing program needs.
Section 35, Chapter 5 of Executive Order No. 292 and Section 27 of Republic Act No. 2260 serve as legal bases for agencies to incur necessary expenses relative to the incentive and award system.

Policy, purpose, and award categories

Awards recognize outstanding public service achievements through ideas, suggestions, interventions, and performance.
The circular establishes three award categories: Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award, Civil Service Commission or Pagasa Award, and Departmental or Kapwa Award.
The Lingkod Bayan Award is reserved for highly exceptional or extraordinary contributions that have nationwide effect and principally affect national interest, security, and patrimony.
The Pagasa Award recognizes contributions that directly benefit more than one department or the government, but are not of such extraordinary or exceptional degree as to warrant the Lingkod Bayan Award.
The Kapwa Award recognizes contributions that directly benefit a single department or agency; it is evaluated internally by the agency and does not require CSC screening and evaluation.

Award definitions and award form

The Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for highly exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance with nationwide effect principally affecting national interest, security and patrimony.
The Lingkod Bayan Award is in the form of a gold (gilded) medallion and plaque containing the citation and the signature of the President of the Philippines.
The Civil Service Commission or Pagasa Award is given to an individual or group of individuals recognizing contributions from an idea or performance resulting in direct benefits to more than one department or to the government, but not at the extraordinary or exceptional degree warranting the Lingkod Bayan Award.
The Pagasa Award is in the form of a gold (gilded) medallion and plaque containing the citation and the signature of the CSC Chairman.
The Departmental or Kapwa Award is given for contributions from an idea or performance resulting in direct benefits to a single department or agency.

Bases and qualifications for nominees

Awards are granted for achievements made on the preceding year.
Awards may be granted based on: consistent dedicated performance exemplifying the best in any profession or occupation in the public service.
Awards may be granted based on: an idea, suggestion, or intervention approved and/or adopted by the employing agency.
Awards may be granted based on: performance of an extraordinary act or service in the public interest connected with or related to employment or official functions.
Awards may be granted based on: outstanding community service or heroic act in the public interest not related to official functions as a public servant.
The awards are open to all officials and employees in the career or non-career service of the national and local government, including state universities and colleges, and government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters, regardless of whether they receive compensation and regardless of the amount.
Nominees must have been employed with the nominating agency for at least one year at the time of nomination.
Nominees must have been rated at least Very Satisfactory (or its equivalent) for two grading periods immediately preceding nomination.
Nominees must not have been found guilty of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or administrative offense, and must not have any pending case against them at the time of nomination.
The award categories are open to individuals and groups of individuals as nominees.

Who may nominate and how nominations proceed

The immediate supervisor of the employee may nominate.
Co-owners may nominate.
A private person or group may nominate.
Nominations must be submitted in the prescribed form to the Suggestions and Incentive Awards Committee (SIAC) in the department/agency/bureau/regional office, SUC/local government unit, or GOCC with original charter where the nominee is employed.
The SIAC screens nominations and evaluates the summary of achievements and justification in the nomination submission.
The SIAC submits its recommendations to the head of the department or agency for review, selection, and endorsement of nominations.
The head of the department or agency endorses and submits nominations on the prescribed form directly to the Civil Service Commission or to any CSC regional, provincial, or field office.
Upon receipt by the Civil Service Commission, a Technical Committee evaluates nominations from all departments and agencies and recommends selected candidates to the Special Committee on Awards.
The Special Committee on Awards evaluates and recommends to the President the Lingkod Bayan awardees and recommends to the CSC Chairman the Pagasa awardees.
The President approves recommendations and confers the Lingkod Bayan Award.
The CSC Chairman approves recommendations and confers the Pagasa Award.

Prescribed nomination forms, required copies, and mandatory attachments

The Civil Service Commission prescribes the nomination forms for the Presidential/Lingkod Bayan and CSC/Pagasa awards.
Departments and agencies may secure nomination forms from the Civil Service Commission or from any CSC regional, provincial, or field offices.
Nominations must use the prescribed form and must be duly signed by the Chairman of the department or agency or bureau or LGU SIAC and by the Head of the Office approving the nomination.
Nominations must be submitted together with the following supporting documents in five (5) copies.
The supporting documents are: a Personal Data Sheet (CS Form 212) including service record of the nominee, duly subscribed and sworn to before the highest ranking Human Resource Management Officer in that agency.
The supporting documents are: a certification from the highest ranking Human Resource Management Officer/Legal Officer in the agency that the nominee has not been found guilty of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude and/or administrative offense, and has no pending case at the time of nomination.
The supporting documents are: an accomplished Performance Appraisal Form for two consecutive rating periods immediately preceding nomination, duly signed by proper authorities.
The supporting documents are: copies of 5 cm. x 5 cm. photo of the nominee with the nominee’s name written at the bottom side of the picture.
Nominations are not considered if the above supporting documents are not submitted.
Supporting documents such as clippings, citations, publications, and pictures, if any, facilitate evaluation.

Summary of achievement and submission deadline

The nomination must include a summary of achievement that describes the nominee’s specific accomplishment warranting outstanding recognition in not less than 200 words.
The summary must cite the situation or existing environment that prompted the nominee’s specific action and the tasks or responsibilities required from the nominee.
The summary must describe improvements made or the impact of the accomplishment.
The summary must justify why the nominee should be nominated or granted the award.
Nominations must be received by the Civil Service Commission on or before June 15 of any given year.
Nominations received after June 15 are automatically included for evaluation in the next year.

SIAC composition and representation rules

At the bureau or department level (including SUCs and GOCCs), the SIAC is composed of the highest Human Resource Management Officer, the Administrative Officer, the Legal Officer, the President of the duly accredited employee organization, a rank-and-file employee organization in the agency, and a rank-and-file employee elected at large.
At the bureau or department level, if there is no accredited association, two (2) representatives are chosen at large by employees through an election called for the purpose.
At the Municipal/City/Provincial level, the SIAC is composed of the highest Human Resource Management Officer or any officer/employee in-charge of personnel, the Treasurer, the representative from the Office of the Mayor/Governor, the President of the duly accredited employee organization, and a rank-and-file employee elected at large.
At the Municipal/City/Provincial level, if there is no accredited association, two (2) representatives are chosen at large by employees through an election called for the purpose.

Funding basis and awarding rites

Agencies may incur necessary expenses relative to the incentive and award system chargeable to the savings of the particular agency under Section 35, Chapter 5 of Executive Order No. 292 and Section 27 of RA 2260.
The Lingkod Bayan (Presidential) Award is conferred by the President in a fitting ceremony during the Civil Service Foundation Day Anniversary.
The Pagasa (Civil Service Commission) Award is conferred by the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission during the celebration of the Civil Service Week.