ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--Invaluable contributions of Iliganons in various sectors were recognized for their notable undertaking in their communities.

Initiated by the Youth Advocators Productive Integrated Service (YAPIS) alongside the Office of Councilor Sol Bacsarpa (OCSB), the city government of Iligan, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), and Youth Affairs Office, 15 awardees of different categories were granted local prestigious honors during the first-ever Serbisyo Awards 2020 Friday, June 25. 

The distinguished titles bestowed included Outstanding Non-Teaching/Support Personnel, Outstanding Educator and Outstanding School Leader all under the school category; Outstanding Barangay Kagawad and Outstanding Punong Barangay belonging to the Lingkod Bayan category; and Outstanding Humanitarian/Volunteer Group of the humanitarian service category.

The initiative aimed to highlight the efforts of the city’s public servants as they continually render service to their fellowmen.

“The Serbisyo Awards is a local prestigious service awards to Iliganons, the academe, public service and humanitarian service to manifest profound commitment to be an active agent to positive change and great influence to their communities,” said Serbisyo Awards 2020 Chairperson Vina Marie Pitogo. 

City Councilor Christine “Sol” Bacsarpa, Chairperson of the Committee on Civil Service, said nominations for the school category were primarily done by the DepEd while the DILG selected candidates for the Lingkod Bayan category. On the other hand, the Youth Affairs Office headed the selection of nominees for the humanitarian service category.

Bacsarpa expressed satisfaction with the successful takeoff of the recognition as she left a reminder to the awardees to stay pinned to the ground while playing their roles in their communities.

“Uplifting in our hearts and we are very happy that in our small little way, nakapataas mi og [we were able to lift] morale. I hope that in spite of the recognition, they will still stay humble. The more that we are recognized by other sectors as we are doing something good to our community ug sa atong isig katao [and to our fellowmen], we will be humble enough,” she said.

Bacsarpa said the Serbisyo Awards is witnessed every two years which makes the next nominations to open by 2022 and the second awarding to transpire in 2023.

With this, she encouraged potential aspirants to partake in the endeavor to requite themselves for their hard work in servicing the people.

“We are inviting sa tanang [all] youth organizations and aspiring young leaders and even the government sectors and lingkod bayan sectors to join us. This is one way of recognizing their contribution to our community. This is one way of rewarding their contribution and sacrifices,” she said. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/ICIC/Lanao del Norte)