Noy cites fire officer who lost 2 kids to Yolanda

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday commended a fire officer from Tacloban City who reported for duty a day after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck, even though her two children died in the storm surge and their house was destroyed.

Aquino also cited a director of his office who reads all the documents brought to his desk, saying he was more than grateful that someone could prepare a briefer for him on a daily basis.

Fire Officer 2 Trixie Dagame and Jo Anne Haber were among this year’s recipients of the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees awards honored during a ceremony held at Malacañang yesterday.

Dagame of the Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Office 8 in Tacloban City and Haber received the Dangal ng Bayan award.  

In his speech, the President lamented that some in government could forget being “civil” and “servants” to the public they were supposed to serve.

He praised the awardees for working quietly and doing what is right despite being away from the limelight. 

The President said his directive to the members of the bureaucracy is to remain true to their sworn duties and give their all to improve the lot of the people, especially the needy.

He also challenged government employees to bring the bureaucracy closer to the public even as he vowed to make accountable those taking advantage of their positions and committing irregularities.

 The other Dangal ng Bayan were education program supervisor Menia Alvidera (Roxas City), state auditor Maria Daisy Bercede (Cebu City), Jail Officer 2 Vivencio Claros (Rodriguez, Rizal), National Food Authority truck driver Roy Esteron (Cabarroguis, Quirino), Department of Agriculture information officer Juvy Gaton (Iloilo City) and scientist Mario Navasero of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. 

The Dangal ng Bayan award is conferred to an individual for performing an extraordinary act of public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of the employee’s observation of the eight norms of conduct provided under Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Awardees received a trophy designed by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva and a cash prize of P200,000.

The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awards were given to professor Teodora Balangcod of the University of the Philippines in Baguio City, agricultural center chief Alma Dickson of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Quezon City, scientist Arsenio Ella of the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology in Los Baños, senior agriculturist Dina Genzola of the office of the provincial agriculturist of Negros Occidental, professor Roberto Guarte of the Visayas State University in Baybay City, executive director Julius Lecciones of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City, medical technologist Lilibeth Martin of Abra Provincial Health Office and Amai Pakpak Medical Center chief Amer Saber in Marawi City.

The other Presidential Lingkod awardees were Chief Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, who started the cyber-crime section of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and upgraded the organization into the current anti-cybercrime group with autonomous structure and created the country’s first-ever team of cyber cops; special education teacher Cecilia Vidoy of the Rabat-Rocamora Mati Central School SPED Center in Mati City and professor Jonar Yago of Nueva Vizcaya State University in Bayombong, Nueva Ecija. 

The Presidential Lingkod Bayan award is conferred to an individual or group of individuals with exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony. The contribution may be a suggestion, innovation or superior accomplishment. Awardees received a gold-gilded medallion crafted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), a presidential plaque containing the citation and signature of the President and a cash prize of P200,000. 

The Civil Service Commission (CSC)’s Pagasa awards were conferred on Matucay Elementary School principal Danny Cachola of Matucay Elementary School in Allacapan, Cagayan; teacher Jinglebert Collado of Tagum City, Davao del Norte; agricultural center chief Gloria de la Cruz of the Philippine Carabao Center in La Union, senior science research specialist Virgilio Fuertes of the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office in Cagayan de Oro City; associate professor Eunice Layugan of the Cagayan State University in Aparri, Cagayan; chief science research specialist Luz Marcelino of the Department of Agriculture Regional Office in Pili, Camarines Sur; senior water resources facility technician Albert Ramos of the Plaridel Water District; information technology officer Ernesto Rivera of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in Pasig City and civil registrar Mary Anne Timbreza of the Tayum municipal government in Abra.