THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) has issued a special commendation for 20 women making up the list of 2023 Outstanding Government Workers.
“As we celebrate Women’s Month, we honor the invaluable contributions of the 20 female civil servants who emerged as winners of the 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers. They proved that public service knows no gender,” CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles said.
Each awardee was extolled for “extraordinary dedication in advancing national development” to inspire all public servants.
President Marcos Jr. conferred the Presidential Lingkod Bayan (PLB) Award to six women last February 14 for their exceptional contributions to public interest, security, and patrimony nationwide.
The recipients were Raquel R. Rivera, Master Teacher I at the Alaminos City National High School in Pangasinan; Julie Ann A. Salido, Professor III at the Aklan State University in Banga, Aklan; Baguio Lead Contact Tracing Team leader Donnabel T. Panes, Medical Officer V, and member Mischelle R. Junio, administrative assistant III; and Landbank Agent Banking (AB) Program Team members Julie Rose C. Castro, eProducts officer, and Rosemarie N. Guevarra, senior eProducts specialist.
Rivera developed software program instructions that benefitted information and communication technology students of Alaminos City National High School.
Salido was credited for designing and developing the Sea-Condition Emergency Alert and Warning Apparatus for Vessels Safety or SEAWAves — an Android application useful in tracking the movement, rolling, and position of all vessels traversing the sea waters of Region VI.
She has also filed for a patent and security copyright of the Prototype Hybrid Trimaran Passenger and Cargo Vessel Using Multi-Engine and Alternative Energy from Ocean Waves, a project creating a marine transport system powered by green energy.
The Baguio Lead Contact Tracing Team, which includes Panes and Junio, was cited for providing prompt response in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic through the creation of the Baguio Retooled Contact Tracing System. The system reached different local government units nationwide, inspiring them to develop similar contact tracing systems in their areas.
The women members of the Landbank AB Program Team, Castro and Guevarra helped launch the Landbank AB program, a form of branchless banking that enables Filipinos without bank accounts and those in geographically isolated areas to open Landbank accounts, withdraw and deposit funds, and pay bills to over 500 government and private billers.
The innovation facilitated the opening of transaction accounts to 3.74 million previously unbanked registrants in 60 provinces.
Each awardee received a gold-gilded medallion crafted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a plaque signed by the President, and cash prizes of P200,000 for individual awardees and P100,000 each for members of group awardees.
The CSC also recognized female awardees who were conferred the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees (Dangal ng Bayan) Award for consistent display of exemplary behavior and the CSC Pagasa Award for outstanding contribution resulting from an innovative idea or outstanding performance that directly benefits more than one department of the government.
Winners of the Dangal ng Bayan Award were Eleonor B. Ayan, nutritionist-dietician of DSWD-Baguio City; Mary Hazel B. Ballena, school principal from Bangued, Abra; and Gay D. Galdo, Special Education teacher in Mati, Davao Oriental.
The CSC Pagasa Award recipients were Venus M. Alboruto, Education Program supervisor in DepEd Surigao City; Vanessa Joy F. Calderon, Senior Science Research Specialist at the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office in Tuguegarao City; Drolly P. Claravall, associate professor at the Isabela State University; and Ronnalee N. Orteza, Director III at DOST Philippine Science High School System – Ilocos Region Campus in Ilocos Sur.
Two women-led groups were also recognized: the Food Processing and Innovation Center-Davao led by DOST XI Supervising Science Research Specialist Mirasol G. Domingo, Senior Science Research Specialist Sheryl N. Napoco, and Science Research Specialist II Dorothy Joy M. Candilas; and the Palayamanan Project Team from Bulacan Agricultural State College led by Associate Professor V Imelda S. Navarro, Associate Professor II Imee D. Esguerra, Associate Professor V Jennifer I. Guevarra, and Associate Professor I Rhuelyn A. Ballaran.
