Baguio City mayor named Phl 'People manager of the year'

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY-- Mayor Benjamin Magalong was declared national winner in the 'People Manager of the Year' category of the Philippine Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Awards on July 30, besting other regional winners from Mindanao, Visayas and the National Capital Region for the distinction.
    The mayor was the prestigious accolade's regional winner for Luzon.
    He thanked Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, Councilor Vladimir Cayabas, City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena, City Human Resource Management Officer Augustin Laban 3rd, other officials and employees for their support and efforts in helping him garner the award.
    Magalong is a staunch advocate of good governance. He spearheaded the formulation of a three-year 15-point agenda during the start of his term to achieve a "better Baguio."
    These include speeding up government action; revitalizing the environment; innovating peace and order; aggressive traffic management; responsive education programs; empowering the youth; expanding health and social services; responsible tourism; enlivened culture, arts, crafts and heritage.
    It also pushes for market modernization; efficient disaster management; empowered and accountable barangay (village) governance; strengthened livelihood and entrepreneurial services; unemployment reduction; and resolution of indigenous people's land claims.
    Institutionalized in 1977, the PMAP Awards is a values-driven, principles-led, evidence-based, innovation-enabled, output-oriented program that publicly honors organizations, individuals and people programs that have achieved excellence and distinction in people management.
    Cayabas, also PMAP regional president, said PMAP is a professional, nonstock, nonprofit organization of over 1,800 member companies and individual management executives engaged or interested in human resource management and industrial relations work.
    "As a professional institution, PMAP helps institutions mold an enlightened, competent, socially responsible and influential sector of people managers who can effectively participate in nation-building," he said.
    The organization also helps its members become more effective on the job by teaching the human aspect of management via numerous career development forums and training programs, Cayabas added.