Region 6 has secured four awards in the 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers during the awards rites held at the Malacañang Palace on February 14, 2024.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Karlo A. B. Nograles and CSC Commissioners Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada and Ryan Alvin R. Acosta, conferred the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award to Prof. Julie Ann A. Salido of Aklan State University and the S-PaSS Core Team composed of Dir. Rowen R. Gelonga, Mr. Ryan Vilmor J. Dumpit and Mr. Garry T. Balinon of the Department of Science and Technology Region VI; the Dangal ng Bayan Award to Mr. Fritz J. Juele of the Department of Education Schools Division of Roxas City; the CSC Pagasa Award to Mr. Relvin B. Paragua of the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas.
Professor Salido was recognized for her achievements as a professor and researcher in a male-dominated field. She championed funded projects that promote resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation not only in Aklan but also in the whole country. She also mentored women and girls (including men) to pursue research in computing and its application in the fields of biometrics, AI, computer vision, computer graphics, neural networks, and deep learning.
The S-PaSS Core Team developed the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage, or S-PaSS despite limited budget and personnel, and piloted it in Western Visayas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The IATF for the Management of Infectious Diseases recognized that the system effectively addressed the problems encountered by LGUs and the traveling public, thus it was used nationwide as a one-stop shop travel application and communication platform. Eventually, the DOTr implemented the system in airports, seaports, and terminals nationwide. The system was able to process around 7 million travel coordination permits and around 6 million travel pass-through permits.
Mr. Juele’s accomplishments include the creation, maintenance, and ongoing introduction of innovations that not only benefited the Schools Division of Roxas City staff but also its teaching staff, students, stakeholders, and the entire community. He introduced HR information systems, document tracking systems, public school library systems, and other computerization projects to improve the operations and performance of the Division and the Regional Office in delivering service to its clientele.
Mr. Paragua and the DA -WV High Valued Crops Development Program Cacao Community developed the project "Ban to Bar," which emphasizes the development of value chain analysis for cacao production in the region, capacitating farmers, identifying and developing technology adopters to be small and medium-scale cacao product producers and marketing of products. The project significantly propelled the improvement and stability of the supply and quality of cacao and cacao products in the region in 2020; the creation of cacao nursery in Pototan and the establishment of four (4) Bean to Bar processing centers in partnership with the Panay Department of Science and Technology. The project also mounted 15 technology training and generated technology adopters.
A total of 27 awardees from the different regions of the country were recognized during the event.
In his message to the awardees, President BBM said, “Standing solidly on our nation’s bedrock belief that public office is a public trust, our 2023 Outstanding Government Workers project the image of an ideal Filipino government worker… In line with our efforts to build a resilient government driven by agile and future-ready civil servants, this Government will always support efforts that will improve your welfare.”
Meanwhile, Chairperson Nograles highlighted the importance of love in public service with the day of the awards rites coinciding with Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. He said, “We will do this today by honoring the outstanding public servants who have shown their love for our country through selfless service, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the welfare of others.”
As an incentive, the Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees received a gold-gilded medallion handcrafted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a Presidential plaque, a cash incentive of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) for individual awardees, and One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) per member of the group awardee, as well as a promotion to the next higher position or equivalent salary increase.
Dangal ng Bayan awardees received a trophy designed by the late National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon V. Abueva, a gold-gilded medallion, and a cash reward of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00). They are also entitled to an automatic promotion to the next higher position or an increase in salary to the next highest salary grade, should there be no vacant position available.
On the other hand, Pagasa awardees received a plaque containing the citation and signature of the CSC Chairperson, a gold-gilded medallion, and a cash reward of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00).
The Search for Outstanding Government Workers is an annual undertaking of the CSC to recognize government workers who exemplified outstanding performance and inspired others with their dedication and commitment to providing quality and excellent public service.
For 2024, the deadline for the submission of nominations to the Search is set for March 31, 2024.
Questions and clarifications regarding the Search may be coursed through the Regional HAP Secretariat email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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