NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 131
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•22 JUL-7 P3:02
RHCEiVtD BY;
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A PERMANENT APPOINTMENT TO ALL CASUAL 
AND CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT WHO 
HAVE RENDERED THE PRESCRIBED YEARS OF SERVICE AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution explicitly provides that workers shall be entitled to 
security of tenure, humane conditions of work, and a living wage (Article XIII, Section 
3). This is a fundamental right guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution for all workers.
Despite this constitutional guarantee, the right to security of tenure is one that 
has yet to be fully realized by all Filipino w'orkers, both 'p the private and public sectors.
With regard the public sector, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), 
the Philippine Government, the largest “employer” in the country, employs at least 25% 
of its 2.3 million government workers, or 582,378 as “job order” (JO) or “contract of 
service” (COS) employees as of August 2021.1
Previously, the Commission on Audit, CSC, and the Department of Budget and 
Management issued Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 1, Series of 2017, as 
amended by JAO No. 1, Series of 2018, which regulates the hiring of workers hired 
under the category of “job orders” and “contracts of service,” and allows agencies to 
renew existing contracts until December 31, 2020. It further provides that existing 
qualified contract of service and job order workers must be considered for appointment
1 Civil Service Commission, Inventory of Government Human Resource - JO/COS Data (as of 
AUGUST 31,2021): Civil Service Commission, Inventory of Government Human Resource - Career 
and Non-Career (as of AUGUST 31,2021); accessible at http://csc.gov.ph/2014-02-21-08-28-23/pdf- 
files/category/1809-ighrs_2021 .html.
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by the government agencies to their vacant positions subject to existing Civil Service 
Laws and rules and agency CSC-approved Merit Selection Plan.
Despite these efforts, however, a considerable number of workers in the 
government still experience “endo” and the Constitutional guarantee to security of 
tenure remains elusive to them. This bill seeks to address this issue by ensuring that 
casual and contractual employees of the government who have rendered exemplary 
service are given security of tenure. Under this bill, all incumbent casual and 
contractual government employees who have rendered at least five (5) years of 
exemplary and continuous service in the national government and six (6) years of 
service in the case of local government units, shall be entitled to permanent 
appointment and an automatic grant of civil service eligibility, subject to the 
requirements of the Constitution, other relevant civil service laws, and the Merit 
Selection Plan of the concerned agency.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR J
VILLANUEVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
of tl)c ^.’fcptarp
•22 JUL-7 P3:02
received
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 131
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A PERMANENT APPOINTMENT TO ALL CASUAL 
AND CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT WHO 
HAVE RENDERED THE PRESCRIBED YEARS OF SERVICE AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Civil Service Security of 
Tenure Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall harness its human resources to cope 
with the rapid economic development and population growth. Government workers, being 
very important components of the State’s human resources, shall be given equal 
opportunity to quality education, justice, and security of tenure.
SEC. 3. Permanent Appointment for Long-Time Casual and Contractual Employees 
of the National Government Agencies and Local Government Units. - Subject to the 
provisions of the 1987 Constitution and applicable civil service laws, rules and regulations 
and the provisions of this Act, all incumbent casual and contractual government 
employees who have rendered at least five (5) years of continuous, exemplary and 
outstanding service in the case of national government agencies, or a total of six (6) years 
of continuous, exemplary and outstanding service in the case of local government units 
as of the date of the approval of this Act shall be entitled to security of tenure.
SEC. 4. Automatic Grant of Civil Service Eligibility. - An automatic grant of civil service 
eligibility shall be given to a casual or contractual employee who has obtained at least a 
satisfactory rating for at least (3) years.


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SEC. 5. Computation of Length of Service. - The requirement of continuous service 
shall be waived if the service of the official/employee concerned prior to the completion of 
the said years was interrupted by not more than two (2) years, taken cumulatively, due to 
either abolition of his/her position, reorganization of the office wherein he/she was phased 
out, or reduction in force: Provided, further. That in the case of officials/employees who 
have been previously employed in the same government agency in any capacity, the said 
requirement of continuous service may likewise be waived if the interruption of their 
service is not more than six (6) months, taken cumulatively, so long as the minimum 
required period is met.
SEC. 6. Selection Process of Casual and Contractual Employees. - Casual and 
contractual employees who meet the requisite length of service shall undergo the 
screening process as prescribed in the Merit Selection Plan of the agency or as 
determined by the pertinent selection board or hiring authority.
SEC. 7. Security of Tenure of Covered Employees and Affected Positions. - All
covered employees may not be separated or terminated from the said positions, except 
for just or lawful cause as provided under applicable laws and issuances, and with due 
process of law, nor can their positions be abolished except when the same is vacated by 
their incumbents or due to a bona fide rationalization plan; Provided, That nothing herein 
shall prevent the concerned national government agency or local government unit from 
assigning or transferring its employees, or otherwise decide on personnel movement and 
other actions.
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Civil Service Commission, in 
consultation with the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on 
Audit, and other relevant stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations necessary to 
implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from tho approval of this Act.
SEC. 9. Penal Provisions. - Any government employee who shall apply for entitlement 
to security of tenure under the provisions of this Act on the basis of false claims and/or 
documents, and any government officer or employee who shall make or issue false 
certifications, attestations, endorsements, and/or spurious documents in relation to any 
such application shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of one (1) year to three (3) years 
or a fine of up to One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00), or both, at the 
discretion of the court, without prejudice to any criminal, civil, or administrative action that 
may be filed against him/her. The concerned government employee shall also suffer the 
accessory penalty of absolute perpetual disqualification from public office.
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provision of this Act not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting.
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, department or 
memorandum orders, and other administrative issuance or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded or repealed 
accordingly.
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,