by T. Villavert

Iloilo City (17 November) -- For demonstrating exemplary leadership in public service, Director Evelyn Trompeta of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Region VI (DILG 6) was awarded Presidential GAWAD CES Awards along with other six outstanding Career Service Officer (CESO) in the country.

Director Trompeta was given an award for the launching of the launching and management of the emergency response network dubbed Patrol 117; Local Governance Regional Resource Center and Excellence for Local Governance Award.

Patrol 117 is a call center which provides reliable and efficient service for emergencies and consolidates resources from both the public and private sectors, has awakened volunteerism among social organizations willing to render community service. The Presidential GAWAD CES (Career Executive Service) Award was established pursuant to Executive Order 715, signed by President Arroyo on March 28, last year. It aims to inspire CESO and third-level eligibles to live up to the ideals of being accountable, development-oriented public managers who are willing to bring change where it is needed, expertise where it is missing, and leadership where it is wanting.

The Malacanang press report disclosed that President Arroyo gave out the Presidential GAWAD CES Award to Director Salvador Adaza Aves of the National Statistics Office for conceptualizing the Touch Base Civil Registration System that revolutionalized the barangay civil registration system. Aves also wrote a book on civil registration, which addresses the needs of thousands of solemnizing officers and more than one thousand local civil registrars throughout the country.

The other awardees are Elisa Bantug Baroque, department manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, was the second awardee. She was recognized for setting up the neuro-developmental services in the Charity Clinic Department for indigent children; Director Corazon Cabrido Davis of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region I for promoting urban biodiversity within Metro Manila and for initiating the establishment of the La Mesa watershed reservation that ensures the environmental integrity of the watershed, reservoir and water resources; Assistant Secretary Mateo Gelito Montaño of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for modernizing the agency’s accounting system, strengthening budget planning linkage, and institutionalizing the annual financial management conference. These efforts streamlined processes, eliminated clerical and posting functions and established the reputation of the DSWD among oversight agencies as competent and honest.

The President likewise gave a posthumous award to Undersecretary Gumersindo Durian Lasam of the Department of Agriculture in Region II. He was honored for his efforts in the development of 41,333 hectares of idle lands in Region II and turning it into agribusiness lands from 2005-2006 resulting in the generation of more than 50,000 jobs.

Also honored was Director Severino Cruz of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Region IV-A for facilitating 27 project proposals endorsed for the Presidential Social Funding that led to the NEDA IV-A being recognized as the Best Performing Region Kalahi Convergence Group.