Lilian Salonga, Acting Director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau, said three elements should be present among participants in the DAP’s Public Management Development Program for them to succeed in their respective areas of assignment.
Keynoting the opening of the DAP’s Middle Managers Class Batch 12 last April 25, Salonga said these elements are the Divine Creator upon whom one can anchor his life, strong support for each other during and beyond the senior executives class, and self-motivation to work in the government and to have a sense of mission to help upgrade the life of the common man.
Salonga said the everyday distractions may cause one to lose focus, so he needs an anchor to serve as a strong link to his priorities and give him stability. She then related how the timing of her own application for the SEC Batch 3 seemed to be “providential” as it coincided with her designation as officer-in-charge of her agency upon the retirement of its head. This gave her the opportunity to use the medical requirements for that position for her application for the DAP class.
Never competitive but supportive
She also related how the members of SEC Batch 3 never felt competitive against one another but instead became a good support for each other, recalling how the PMDP stressed to them the so-called “community of practice,” a concept where a group of people with common passion, values or purpose network with each other for support and sustenance.
Salonga also used as example what she learned during a foreign study mission in Indonesia, where the Mayor of Bandung used the concept of running his government by measuring people’s happiness index.
“So immediately upon my return to my workplace, I applied this in our agency and even at home,” the PMDP alumna said. “We ought to innovate, improve the quality of our service and transform our agencies into a better workplace.
“To sum up, I am so convinced that the PMDP has been a very good platform to shape transformative leaders and strategic managers who are competent, possess integrity and committed to uplift the lives of Filipinos. We had a quote from Mother Teresa: ‘They say my work is just a drop in the ocean…’ I say the ocean is made up of drops!”
Welcome for Batch 12
DAP President Antonio Kalaw Jr. actually welcomed the members of MMC Batch 12 in ceremonies at the DAPCC in Tagaytay, some 40 of whom will try to join 437 others who have completed the PMDP for middle managers. Some 116, meanwhile, have also graduated from the PMDP for senior executives.
A total of 594 middle managers have earned scholarships for the PMDP as of May 3, 2016.
Magdalena Mendoza, Senior Vice President for Programs, and Nanette Caparros, PMDP Director, introduced the PMDP faculty and the program team, respectively. Elizabeth Tungol, session director for this class, meanwhile, introduced the scholars of Batch 12.
Rochelle Ann Laconico-San Pedro, OIC of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Corporate Marketing Department and a member of MMC Batch 7-Saluysoy, delivered an inspirational message while Antonio Delgado, chief inspector of the Philippine National Police and a member of MMC Batch 11-Bagwis, made the traditional passing on of the tradition of excellence to the incoming class. Aris Delson Acay Cawilan, legal officer at the Department of Education, gave the response on behalf of Batch 12.
