Nograles resigns as CSC chair to pursue political bid

DAVAO CITY –— Karlo Nograles, the head of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), formally resigned from his position on Monday to signal his intention of running for public office in his hometown of Davao City.

Unconfirmed reports say Nograles will challenge the mayoralty bid of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who filed his certificate of candidacy on Monday afternoon.

In a letter dated October 7, 2024, addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Nograles expressed appreciation “for the privilege of working alongside dedicated public servants” and acknowledged the difficulty of his decision to step down from the agency.

The former legislator from Davao City described his tenure with the CSC as both a privilege and an honor, emphasizing the institution’s constitutional mandate to uphold morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil service.

Motivated by his experiences, Nograles expressed a desire to apply the lessons learned during his time as the head of the Commission and his extensive government service to his return to Davao City.

Highlighting the contributions made during his leadership, Nograles praised the commitment and efforts of CSC personnel nationwide in implementing impactful reforms aimed at benefitting the country in the long term.

Expressing confidence in the CSC’s capabilities to continue advancing the bureaucracy, Nograles expressed his gratitude to the team and shared his optimism for their future endeavors.

Nograles’ tenure saw the CSC actively recognizing outstanding civil servants, enhancing public engagement programs, and improving eligibility exams to encourage more individuals to join government service.

Furthermore, the Commission under Nograles’ leadership prioritized modernization, digitalization, and training initiatives, benefiting a vast number of CSC personnel and government employees across the nation.

Before leading the CSC, Nograles served three terms as the congressional representative of Davao City’s 1st district, playing a pivotal role in enacting significant legislation such as the Green Jobs Act, the JobStart Philippines Act, and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.