New Board of Trustees member Atty. Engelbert Caronan Jr. urged the Middle Managers Class Batch 14-Anluwage and Senior Executives Class Batch 6-Dakila to “go forth and touch lives” even as the keynote speaker, Undersecretary Jose Miguel de la Rosa of the National Economic and Development Authority, reminded the graduates to always remember that the badge of service to the people is now pinned on their chest.

Both Atty. Caronan and Usec. De la Rosa addressed the 14th graduation ceremony of the Public Management and Development Program last May 11 at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City.

 

Usec. De la Rosa underscored the responsibility the graduates now carry after having completed their respective training programs.

“You will leave this venerable hall and place full of idealism raring to go back to work and try to spread the virus of service that you contracted in the program,” Usec. De la Rosa said as he stressed the goal that the graduates need to accomplish.  “Be the best version of yourself.”

Atty. Caronan, on the other hand, urged the graduates to build strong communities as they live out the ideals of the DAP that they now embody.  “I see you not only as managers of change and for development but as a change catalyst and development innovators,” said Atty. Caronan as he encouraged the graduates to be part of the great work of nation building.

He also urged the faculty members and the PMDP program’s management team to strengthen their programs, teach more students and provide more high-caliber graduates.  “There is a great change coming and our nation needs more change managers,” he declared.

DAP Officer-in-Charge Magdalena Mendoza, in her welcome remarks, also challenged the 37 graduates of the MMC Batch 14 and 24 graduates of SEC Batch 6 to continue to gear up as they go back to their respective agencies, fully equipped and with a broader perspective of a true government leader.

“The investment made for you must be seen and felt commencing today in your career as public servants and as you contribute in carrying out your agencies’ mandates and services for the benefit of the Filipino people,” OIC Mendoza told the graduates.

The PMDP offers two full government scholarships, Middle Managers Class and Senior Executives Class.  Both are n b  intensive, holistic, and multi-modal courses on the theory and practice of public management.  They include a residential training and an integrating final requirement where learnings from sessions are expected to be applied immediately.  — Jeannalla Burns