City of San Fernando, La Union, September 21, 2023 – To commemorate the 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary and to celebrate a century-old tradition of excellence and dedication, government officials and public servants gathered at the CSC-RO1 Hall of Learning in the City of San Fernando, La Union, on September 21, 2023.

Under the theme “Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future-Ready Servant-Heroes,” the event highlighted the 2023 Regional Recognition and Awards Rites, which aimed to honor outstanding institutions and individuals who have made remarkable contributions to public service. Among the awardees was Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), recognized for its exceptional contributions to human resource management.

In response to the recognition, DMMMSU, through Dr. Antonio Ogbinar, representing President Jaime I. Manuel, Jr., expressed DMMMSU’s gratitude for the prestigious award and reiterated its commitment to continually elevating the quality of public service.

“The road to achieving this accolade was not easy. We took the chance to challenge the status quo. We were confident in revisiting our HR systems and processes. We revolutionized how we did our business, and we decided to work harder to migrate from Level 1 to Level 2. We persevered and toiled until we succeeded,” Dr. Orbinar said during his response as he recounted DMMMSU’s journey toward achieving the Bronze Award.

Also present during the ceremonies were Dr. Elsie M. Pacho, VP for Academic and International Affairs; Atty. Kristine Gay B. Balanag, Director for Administrative Services and concurrent Director for Human Resource Management; Prof. Prescilita Villanueva, former HRMO Head for the South La Union Campus, and Dr. Rahfie Nullar, HRMO Head for MLUC, who also represented the former VP for Administration, Dr. Estrella N. Perez, to whom DMMMSU especially dedicates the award.

The 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary celebration honors past achievements and provides a glimpse into the future of public service in the Philippines. By recognizing institutions like DMMMSU and their dedication to transformation and excellence, the celebration catalyses the CSC’s goal to shape  a new generation of servant-heroes who are agile, future-ready, and dedicated to the betterment of the nation. (By Ayu)