CAR tops national search for ‘public servant-heroes’

The result of this year’s nationwide “Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees” under the Honor Awards Program (HAP) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) placed the Cordillera Administrative Region on top of all regions in the country for having produced four national awardees out of 24 total HAP nomination entries from the Cordillera, thus registering a percentage high of 16.67%.

This was bared by CSC-CAR director Marilyn E. Tando who said this year’s national awardees are Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardees:

1) Teodora C. Balangcod, Professor III, University of the Philippines College-Baguio for establishing the UP Baguio Herbarium and data-base of Herbarium collections which significantly aid student learning & research works; for establishing a bamboo plant nursery and initiating massive propagation and planting of bamboo plants and other species in erosion/landslide-prone areas of Atok, Benguet; and for her significant researches which are currently benefitting the College and other schools in the Cordillera region.

2) Lilibeth B. Martin, Medical Technologist II, provincial government of Abra for having designed and implemented an effective and efficient malaria management program that led to the declaration of the entire province of Abra as malaria-free, and earning for them P1 million cash incentive; initiated drafting of an executive order creating the Malaria Elimination Hub as a requirement  before an LGU can be declared malaria-free; and introduced the “One Stop Shop” strategy in delivering various health and social services in Abra.

PAGASA awardees: Mary Anne T. Timbreza, Municipal Civil Registrar of Tayum, Abra for developing and implementing the “Digitization of Local Civil Registry Documents of LGU Tayum, Abra” resulting in easier verification of the correctness and authenticity of Civil Registry documents, elimination of common errors and problems of multiple registration, facilitative service delivery in the preparation and issuance of Civil Registry Certificates, more efficient civil registry records management, and enhanced relations and customer satisfaction due to faster and more efficient service delivery.

The Office for Agricultural Services (Rice Group), provincial government of Kalinga headed by their team leader Jose R. Casibang was cited for consistent yearly increase in palay yield contributing to: food security for  the entire province of Kalinga, reduction in rice import by the Philippine government, the  exceptional production output surplus contributed to an estimated 2 billion pesos to the local economy, increased production resulted to increased income, thus,  empowering farmers to be financially and economically self-sufficient, increased efficiency of technology transfer and developed entrepreneurial capability of farmers; positive change in the attitude of farmers, from traditional farming to technology-driven agriculture, thus improvement in their economic status and quality of life.

All the above-named awardees from the Cordillera, along with the 26 other awardees from other regions will be the honorees in the HAP recognition and awarding ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on Nov. 9 with President Benigno C. Aquino III who will hand over to them their respective gold-gilded medallion, plaque, and cash reward.

Every year, the CSC is on the lookout for heroes in public service for either exceptional work performance, acts of heroism or consistent display of exemplary behavior in the performance of their duties and functions as government employees. 

Tando said these heroes can come from the lowest rank to the highest official in government, whether elected or appointed.

The Honor Awards Program (HAP) being administered by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), she added, aims to recognize and reward state workers for outstanding work performance and consistent ethical behavior. Its goal is to motivate and inspire state workers to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.

Three types of awards are given under the HAP. The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group for exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest.

The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of observance of the norms of conduct provided under Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The CSC Pagasa Award is granted to an individual or group for outstanding contributions that directly benefited more than one department of government on a certain degree of standards.

Through the years, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was a consistent goldmine of public servant-heroes or outstanding public servants who made a difference in their lives and in the service.