Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan led the ceremony recognizing the first batch of employees of DENR National Capital Region, EMB Central Office, EMB National Capital Region, and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) who graduated under the Master in Public Administration (MPA) program of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) on Thursday, 15 September 2022, in Quezon City.
The ceremony, organized by the Human Resources Development Section (HRDS), was attended by officials of both DENR National Capital Region and PLM. Director Caancan was accompanied by her Assistant Regional Directors Manuel T. Escasura (Management Services) and Engr. Ignacio R. Almira, Jr. (Technical Services) in conferring the honors. Division chiefs Jan S. Bautista (Administrative), Engr. Lina S. Mirandilla (Surveys and Mapping), Atty. Alvin Joseph G. Constantino (Licenses, Patents, and Deeds), Manila Bay focal Forester Haidee D. Pabalate, and RSCIG head Chris Villarin, bore witness to the ceremony and cheered for their staff who graduated.
Also in attendance are DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Services (FASPS) Director Al O. Orolfo and his Assistant Director Ma. Sabrina R. Cruz. PLM was represented by its Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Engr. Clydelle M. Rondaris, Dir. Gilbert A. Apas of the Office of the Student Development Services (OSDS), Prof. Christopher E. Bandojo, of the School of Government, and Dr. Porfirio B. Tizon, faculty.
The 32 graduates received a plaque of recognition and DENR pin from RED Caancan, ARD Escasura, and ARD Almira for their accomplishments. The program for continuing education of DENR employees is the brainchild of Director Caancan. She said that it has always been her dream to help employees who wanted to pursue further studies on top of their workload. In her view, employees who care about improving their expertise are potential leaders of the organization. The DENR and the public, she explained, gain more than the graduates themselves from the degree they earned.
“As always, an educated workforce is advantageous to the public as it translates to better performance”, she said. “We actively pursued this partnership with PLM’s School of Government to provide our graduates a firm grounding on the principles of good governance and deepen their appreciation of our duties and responsibilities as public servants”, she added. DENR National Capital Region and PLM signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 2019 to open an off-campus MPA program for interested employees of the regional office and other government employees.
“Understand that what we’re after in this program is not knowledge for its own sake or for personal advancement, but knowledge that serves a higher purpose, and that is to provide excellent public service to the Filipino people”, Director Caancan explained. She commended the PLM and expressed her intention to sign a new agreement and expand the program with a possible opening of a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration. Another batch of employees is completing their course requirements for the MPA under the regional office’s MOA with PLM.
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