CSC recognizes HAP winners

By Raymart Escopel

SIX public servants qualified for this year’s Honor Awards Program (HAP) of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Western Visayas.

The winners were awarded last April 4 at SM City Iloilo.

Each awardee received a plaque of recognition and cash prize worth P20,000. CSC Commissioner Nieves Osorio and CSC-6 Director Rodolfo Encajonado handed the prizes to the winners.

HAP is composed of three categories: Dangal ng Bayan, PAGASA, and Presidential Lingkod Bayan.

For Dangal ng Bayan category, Kalibo, Aklan Municipal Agricultural Technologist Alicia Rebuelta; Pavia Municipal Police Station Deputy OIC/WCPO PNCO SPO3 Rhia Sotomil; and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 6 Director Atty. Janet Mesa were the awardees.

The Dangal ng Bayan Award, on the other hand, is given to an individual for his or her extraordinary performance for public service and for consistent and exemplary ethical demonstration of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or better known as the Republic Act No. 6713.

Meanwhile, Local Government Operations Officer VI-Cluster Head of DILG-Aklan Provincial Office Maricel Bechayda and Master Teacher II of Tubungan Central Elementary School Concepcion Tababa emerged as winners for the PAGASA category.

The CSC PAGASA Award is conferred to an individual or a group for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of the government.

For the Presidential Lingkod Bayan category, on the other hand, regional chief of staff of the BJMP 6 Jail Chieg Inspector Gilbert Peremne was declared as the sole regional winner.

The Presidential Lingkod Bayan is given to an individual or group for exceptional or extraordinary contributions of nationwide impact.

In his message during the awarding ceremony, Encajonado noted that the HAP regional winners serve as exemplars of good public servants as they take service delivery in the next level to satisfy their clients in line with the provisions mandated by the Republic Act (RA) 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

He mentioned that this year, there are a total of 37 nominees. Though the number is lower compared to last year, which awarded 41, Encajonada is still confident that the region will produce winners for the national level.

It could be learned that the Western Visayas has been producing semi-finalists except for years 1990, 2008 and 2010.

The HAP awarding and recognition is part of the 114th anniversary celebration of the Philippines Civil Service in the region this September./PN