New P116-M CSC building to provide comfort, easy access to clients

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- A new Civil Service Commission in Bicol (CSC-5) regional office worth PHP116 million is expected to rise within the year after the groundbreaking ceremony at the Bicol Regional Center Site in Rawis here Friday.

The three-storey building, expected to be finished in July this year, will have three training halls, allowing multiple sessions to be conducted at the same time, CSC-5 Director Daisy Punzalan-Bragais said in an interview after the event.

“Today, we had a time capsule laying ceremony, symbolizing the construction of our new office. We are very grateful to our colleagues, especially the Department of Public Works and Highways and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co for providing us funding for this project,” she said.

Bragais said “the CSC now serves as a training arm of the government so we need to improve how we conduct training.”

She said they used to rent venues like hotels and restaurants to conduct trainings.

Once the new building is available, the old CSC regional office will be converted into the Albay Field Office and will provide additional rooms for computerized examinations.

“We have long planned to have a bigger office. The lot was awarded to us in 2017, and in 2021, we received a resolution. However, it was only in 2024 that we were included in the GAA, allowing the project to finally proceed,” Bragais said.

Gov’t employees as non-partisan

Meanwhile, Bragais reminded government employees to uphold neutrality and impartiality as campaign period for local positions, among others. starts on March 28.

“Civil servants are not allowed to wear t-shirts, caps, jackets, and ballers with names of local candidates. We are also not allowed to attend rallies, sing, or host rallies. Please be careful since cases can be filed against any government employee engaged in partisan political activities,” she added. (with a report from Valerie Mae Olaño, OJT/PNA)