Benter is a Medical Technologist 1 assigned at the Municipal Health Services Office .  The CSC conferred the Dangal ng Bayan to Benter for ensuring effective COVID-19 pandemic management through extensive swabbing and contact tracing activities.

“She was on-call to conduct swab tests on both the living and the dead, under heavy rains or extreme heat, trudging difficult terrains even during holidays and weekends. At the onset of the pandemic, she single-handedly swabbed 2,018 patients in a span of six months. Aside from swabbing, she also performs laboratory services as the lone medical technologist of the municipality,” the CSC said.

In addition to the trophy and certificate, pursuant to Section 6, Paragraph 3 of RA 6713, the awardee is entitled to an automatic promotion to next higher position with commensurate salary suitable to her qualification.

“Daytoy lang ti pinaka mayat nga naaramid ti COVID-19 pandemic kanyak ta adda award ko,” (the award is the  best thing that the COVID-19 pandemic did to me),” Benter said in her acceptance message where  she also thanked the support of   local officials, her fellow employees, the other stakeholders and clients and her family.

Taldo explained that the Dangal Bayan award is among the highest awards that a government official or employee can receive during his or her  stint in public service and this is the first time that there is a national aardee  from LGU La Trinidad. 

According to Taldo, La Trinidad is among the LGUs recognized for having met the maturity level indicators for the HR system. She hopes  that he LGU would be able to meet the other indicators  to receive the bronze level award.

She also thanked LGU La Trinidad for all the support  it  extended to the CSC and its program especially to the CSC Field Office during her stint as Regional Director in the Cordillera region since 2013. She also wished  the municipality good luck to the future national awards that they may attain such as the bronze medal under the PRIME HRM or the program to institutionalize meritocracy and excellence in human resource management.

For his part, Mayor Salda thanked the dedicated services of Lucia Benter particularly sacrificing her life to swab and take specimen from patients and clients not knowing if these are COVID-19 positive or negative.

“Despite the pandemic, may na awardan pa rin (we still have an awardee) who now serves as the inspiration of all the employees in the municipality,” Salda said.

The mayor encouraged the employees to perform and excel in their duties and responsibilities and be inspired with the first national CSC awardee of the municipality. He  assured that the LGU will be preparing for the other possible awards thru the exemplary services of the municipal employees.(JDP/RMC- PIA CAR)