Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Government workers belonging to the Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) and Kawani laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon stage a protest in front of the National Housing Authority (NHA) gate in Quezon City on June 24, 2022, Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file

Article (news)

Carlos Trazo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Civil Service Commission assured the public that the Government Optimization Act is not intended to cause mass layoffs but to improve public service by evaluating the functions of government agencies and eliminating redundancies.</p><p>Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo said in a televised briefing that government employees affected by the merging or abolition of agencies are protected by Republic Act No. 6656, which guarantees due process and compensation for state workers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/5/marcos-signs-government-optimization-act-to-rid-govt-of-redundant-posts-simplify-procedures-1513"><strong>Marcos signs Government Optimization Act to rid gov’t of redundant posts, simplify procedures<br/></strong></a></div><p>“[T]hey will be separated pero ‘di naman basta-basta sila ise-separate lang, bibigyan sila ng karampatang separation pay on top of the retirement benefits that they are entitled to under the law,” Ronquillo said.</p><p>(Those separated from the service will get separation pay on top their retirement benefits)</p><p>Government employees may also bring cases of alleged wrongful termination to the CSC.</p><p>“And if we believe, based on the documents that will be endorsed to us na ito ngang tao ay biktima ng maling pagkakatanggal (that they were wrongfully terminated), then we will come into the picture, grant the appeal, and order their reinstatement to the service,&quot; he also said.</p><p>He said the commission will make sure the law will not be used for indiscriminate layoffs and terminations from the service.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/16/marcos-tells-government-officials-perform-or-get-out-of-the-way-1642"><strong>Marcos tells government officials: perform or get out of the way</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>COURAGE: &#x27;RIGHTSIZING&#x27; WILL WORSEN PUBLIC SERVICES</strong></div><p>Government workers&#x27; union Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) had opposed the law, saying it threatened the security of tenure of 2.9 million state workers &quot;and risks deepening inequality in public service.&quot;</p><p>In a statement in June, the group said that &quot;separation incentives may soften the blow, but they don’t solve the long-term impact of unemployment—especially in a country where government jobs are a lifeline for many families.&quot;</p><p>It said said the government already has fewer employees than needed to ensure the delivery of public services and further layoffs would &quot;[promote] overburdened employees handling multiple roles, leading to burnout, low morale, and poor service quality.&quot;</p><p>Ronquillo said the law promotes a “whole-of-nation” approach and primarily targets the Executive Branch, although other branches are encouraged to adopt similar reforms.</p>

<p>Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo said in a televised briefing that government employees affected by the merging or abolition of agencies are protected by Republic Act No. 6656, which guarantees due process and compensation for state workers.</p>

Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo said in a televised briefing that government employees affected by the merging or abolition of agencies are protected by Republic Act No. 6656, which guarantees due process and compensation for state workers.

CSC: Workers affected by Government Optimization Act will get due process, separation pay

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CSC: Workers affected by Government Optimization Act will get due process, separation pay

Carlos Trazo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 07, 2025 06:15 PM PHT

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CSC

Government Optimization Act

mass layoffs

Civil Service Commission

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