La Trinidad COVID-19 hero conferred with CSC national award
By Redjie Melvic Cawis
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet(PIA) — The Civil Service Commission conferred the Dangal ng Bayan Award to a COVID-19 hero from La Trinidad, Benguet.
CSC-CAR Regional Director Marilyn Taldo, Assistant Regional Director Cornelia Rillera, Benguet Field Director Josefina Tamondong and Human Resource Specialist Adoraline Marigza awarded the Dangal ng Bayan trophy and medallion, a certificate and the cash incentive to Lucia Jacinta Santiago Benter of the Municipal Government of La Trinidad in a ceremony at the Lednicky Hall of the La Trinidad Municipal Hall on Tuesday(Dec. 21).
The awarding ceremony was witnessed by the local officials, department heads and employees of the La Trinidad LGU led by Mayor Romeo Salda and Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan and the family of the awardee.
The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to an individual for exemplary ethical behavior in observance of the code of conduct under Republic Act No. 6713. It is conferred to an individual for performance of an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her observance of the eight norms of behavior provided under the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”
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 automatic promotion to the next higher position with a 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 awardee from LGU La Trinidad.
In the same ceremony, the CSC-CAR also awarded a certificate of recognition to the Municipal Government of La Trinidad for meeting the Maturity Level as an indicator for the Human Resources systems and HRMO competencies in recruitment, selection and placement as a result of their determination and invaluable efforts to promote people excellence in their agency for efficient and effective public service delivery.
The award was received by Salda and Awingan with the members of the Personnel Selection Board. The award was given virtually back in September 2021.
According to Taldo, La Trinidad is among the LGUs recognized for having met the maturity level indicators for the HR system. She hopes that the 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 specimens 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)
