MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured exemplary civil servants on Wednesday of continued government support to improve their welfare, vowing to increase their number under the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign as he led the awards rites for the outstanding state workers for 2023.
“In Bagong Pilipinas, we want to increase their tribe, in line with our efforts to build a resilient government driven by agile and future-ready civil servants. This government will always support efforts that will improve your welfare,” President Marcos said during the Awards Rites for the Outstanding Government Workers of 2023 and the Presidential Medal of Merit in Malacañang.
“So, let me reiterate the administration’s commitment to enhance your working conditions and support professional development in the civil service.”
Standing solidly on nation’s bedrock belief that public office is a public trust, the 2023 Outstanding Government Workers project the image of an ideal Filipino government worker, the President said, noting they consistently deliver quality public service, regardless of their position or pay without expecting in return.
Awards given out by the President were the 2023 Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award, 2023 Dangal ng Bayan Award, the 2023 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award and the Presidential Medal of Merit. These awards were conferred to an individual or group of individuals for exceptional or extraordinary contributions with nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony.
One of those recognized by the President was Apo Whang-Od, one of the very few, if not the only, remaining master mambabatok from Buscalan. The President awarded her the Presidential Medal of Merit for her significant and exemplary contributions to preserving the Butbut Kalinga or the traditional tattoo known as “fatok” or “whatok.”
“We are honoring Apo Whang-od for works that have made her and the country famous, for other achievements that make her a Filipina worthy of our respect and of our admiration,” he said in conferring the award, recognizing her as a pioneer in shattering gender stereotypes by venturing into tattooing.
“She is a keeper of the oral traditions and a mentor, teaching a new generation of artists, thus ensuring that her art form lives on to tell tales of her community’s history,” he said.
Recognizing the Dangal ng Bayan awardees, he said they have proven that they can exercise the highest standards of work ethics even in the face of risks or temptations and became examples of commitment to public interest, professionalism, and responsiveness to the public.
The CSC Pagasa awardees, on the other hand, have made their workplaces and communities better with the projects and programs they have introduced to address gaps and to elevate public service in their respective areas, the President said.
Likewise, the chief executive praised the Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees for their work that had nationwide impact in their respective fields.
“We congratulate our professors, master teachers who make up majority of our awardees this year, as well as our group awardees who battled the COVID-19 pandemic through the strategic use of technology,” said Marcos.
He also recognized the accomplishments of the Lead Contact Tracing Team from the City Government of Baguio led by Mayor Benjie Magalong “for they have introduced an effective and efficient contact tracing system.”
“We also have the LANDBANK Agent Banking Program Team for introducing branchless banking to promote financial inclusion; and, as we have mentioned before, the S-PaSS Core Team for helping ease movement during the pandemic,” he added.
In accordance with its constitutional mandate, the CSC administers the Honor Awards Program (HAP), an incentives and rewards program that recognizes and awards state workers for their outstanding contributions and achievements in the delivery of public service.
HAP conducts the annual Search for Outstanding Government Workers honoring exemplary accomplishments and behavior, and the Pambansang Lingkod Bayani program (PLBi), that recognizes qualified public servant who died in the line of duty. (PND)
