FOUR education and research officials received the Presidential Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) Awards in a ceremony held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace on August 5, 2024.

The event was led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Karlo Nograles. It was also graced by cabinet members, including Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.

Recipients of the Presidential Gawad CES Awards for the year 2021 were Regional Director Maria Josefina Abilay, MD, of DoST Mimaropa Region,

Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) 3; and DoST Assistant Secretary for Regional

Development Maria Teresa Camba, CESO 6.

Meanwhile, the recipients for the years 2022 and 2023 werre Division Superintendent Miguel Mac Aposin, CESO 5, of the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Province of Capiz; and PhilRice Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Eduardo Jimmy Quilang, CES Eligible, Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Research at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), respectively.

Abilay is currently a member of the Board of Regents of the six state universities and

colleges (SUCs) in Region 4B in her capacity as the DoST-Mimaropa Regional Director. These SUCs are Mindoro State University (MinSU), Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC), Marinduque State College (MSC), Romblon State University (RSU), Palawan State University (PSU) and Western Philippines University (WPU)

Abilay was honored as CES eligible for her exemplary performance and significant

contributions, particularly in innovation, information and communications technology, social services, administrative reforms and public policy.

The Presidential Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) is a highly coveted award and is open to all CESOs and third-level eligibles occupying positions requiring the

performance of executive, leadership, and/or managerial functions, and have manifested

exemplary performance and unquestionable integrity.

It aims to recognize individuals or groups/teams with a maximum of members from the

CES Community for their exemplary performance and significant contributions, particularly in the areas of innovation, information and communication technology, social services, administrative reforms and public policy.

The honorees received a plaque with the Presidential seal, a Gawad CES statuette, and

P100,000 cash prize.

The President urged all CESOs to embody the core values of public service: patriotism, excellence, integrity and spirituality to ensure the nation's prosperity.

PHOTO

Regional Director Maria Josefina Abilay, MD (3rd from right) of the Department of Science and Technology Mimaropa Region receives the Career Executive Service Officer 3 award from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the Presidential Gawad Career Executive Service Award at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang Palace on August 5, 2024. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO