EDITORIAL

Exemplars of public service in the Cordillera

Efforts in the search for the “finest breed of public servants in the Cordillera” brought forth 65 nominations for this year’s honor awards program of officials and employees in the region.
Lorenzo Danipog, Cordillera regional director of the Civil Service Commission bared this saying this was in response to the “2007 search for outstanding public officials and employees.”

Regional government agencies have submitted nominations of their officials and employees for three award categories: Lingkod Bayan Award (35), Dangal ng Bayan Award (12) and Pagasa Award (18).

Last year, a total of 58 individual and group awardees from the Cordillera distinguished themselves as national exemplars in the annual search. From 1988 to 2006, 22 Cordillera officials and employees have been recognized as Lingkod Bayan awardees.

From 1990 to 2006, the region produced 26 Dangal ng Bayan awardees. The Cordillera ranked second nationwide, next only to National Capital Region for both categories while it shared the 5th slot with Region IV in the Pagasa Award category.

Ten Pagasa awardees came from the Cordillera in 1984-1985 and 1988-2006.
Recognition and conferment of awards to winners shall be during the month-long celebration of the anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service on September.

Lingkod Bayan awardees will receive a gold medallion, a plaque containing the citation and signature of the President of the Philippines and cash award of P100,000. The Dangal ng Bayan awardee shall receive a trophy designed and made by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva and P100,000 cash reward. The Pagasa awardee, individual or group, shall receive a gold medallion, a plaque containing the citation and signature of the chairperson of the CSC and P50,000 cash reward.

Aside from regular incentives, additional incentives in the form of scholarship privileges in CSC partner schools may be given to individual awardees in the three award categories (Dangal ng Bayan, Lingkod Bayan and Pagasa Awards).

The Benguet State University became the latest addition to the list of CSC – Cordillera partner schools in this endeavor. On April 16, Dr. Rogelio D. Colting, BSU president and CSC’s Danipog signed a memorandum of agreement for the “BSU – CSC Study Grant” to enable HAP awardees to avail of the scholarship program at the University. Congratulations!