Dili, July 15, 2026 (Media Democrasia) – The Government of Timor-Leste will celebrate the 2026 National Public Service Day Commemoration in Gleno, Ermera Municipality.This celebration aims to show appreciation for the contributions of public servants in providing services to the people and to strengthen the commitment to improving the quality of public administration in the country.
The Director of the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), Virgílio da Silva Guterres, said that this year, four institutions have been given the responsibility to organize and carry out the National Public Service Day Commemoration. These institutions are working together to ensure the celebration runs well and achieves the objective of valuing the contributions of public servants to national development.
“Representatives from the 4 institutions, based on quadrilateral cooperation, this year four institutions have received the responsibility to organize the National Public Service Day Commemoration. The institutions are the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice (PDHJ), the Civil Service Commission (KFP), the State Inspector-General (IGE), and the Anti-Corruption Commission (KAK). As we all know, every year we commemorate National Public Service Day on July 15. For this year, the responsibility to organize the celebration lies with these four institutions that are working together in quadrilateral cooperation.” said PDHJ’s Virgílio da Silva Guterres to journalists at the KFP building, Caicoli, Tuesday (14/07/2026).
He also stated that this year’s National Public Service Day commemoration will not be held on July 15 as usual. The commemoration has been moved to September 25, 2026, and will take place in Gleno, Ermera Municipality.
“Today we held a press conference to convey some important points reg arding the Public Service Day commemoration. First, to inform public entities, especially civil servants, that National Public Service Day is usually commemorated with joy. It is part of our institutional reflection and also personal reflection for each public servant about what we have done for Public Administration to serve our citizens. Therefore, this year the collective commemoration cannot be held, but we decided that the collective commemoration, as the peak event, will be held on September 25 in Gleno.” he said.
He explained that the date for the National Public Service Day celebration was changed because there are preparations to receive the urns of the Bishops and there will also be a period of national mourning.
“The reason we postponed it is because during this preparation period there are many events. One is the national mourning for our former President of the Republic, Dr. Francisco Guterres (Lu-Olo). Second, we are preparing to receive the urns of the Bishops, from Dom Martinho and Dom Jaime, who are being brought back from abroad. After that, we communicated with the entity responsible that from the end of August to September 10 we will focus on receiving the urns of our Bishops. At a high-level meeting between the 4 entities, the President of the Civil Service Commission, the Commissioner of KAK, the State Inspector-General, and PDHJ, last week we decided to reschedule the commemoration, or the culminating point, to September 25.” He stated.
To inform all entities, the organizing committee will continue working because sporting events and choir group competitions will still go ahead. During the time we postponed, it will give space to organize it properly. On September 25 we will gather in Gleno to commemorate Public Service Day.
He also informed that all entities may commemorate Public Service Day tomorrow according to their own capacity and intention they can do general cleaning, request a mass, or visit the Garden of Heroes.
Report By: Trainees Juanita and Delfiano
Photo: Trainee Juanita