The Development Academy of the Philippines has survived the test of relevance and viability.  This was the message that its officer in charge, Magdalena L. Mendoza, conveyed to the institution’s employees as the DAP opened its week-long observance of its 45th anniversary this week.

The DAP’s quest for excellence in performance toward the fulfillment of its mandate has been attested to time and time again by more than satisfied returns from the various organizations that benefited from its services,” Ms. Mendoza told the employees.  “The collective acumen of its army of experts has been proven in shaping elegant solutions to the country’s development problems.

“The DAP has impressed its stakeholders on its dependability to deliver commitments and conduct business with probity,” the DAP OIC added.  “I have been with the DAP for 35 years, and over that time, I’ve seen its many ups and downs.  Happily and by the grace of God Almighty, there were more ups than downs that occurred.  We have navigated troubled waters but have emerged with far-reaching accomplishments.”

“The DAP has survived the test of relevance and viability and reached this segment of the DAP’s vision,” Ms. Mendoza stressed.  “To my mind, it is because the DAP stands firmly on these values: D for dependability, A for acumen, P for probity.  But in our anniversary theme, it is about DGT or ‘Dangal, Galing, at Tatag.’”

She urged the employees to keep such values “through the DAP spirit for the next 45 years.”

The DAP, which has become the country’s premier research and training institution, was founded through Presidential Decree No. 205 signed by then-President Ferdinand Marcos on June 7, 1973, and was inaugurated on June 23, 1973 at its now-legendary training facility in Tagaytay City.  Since then, it has served as the country’s development arm by fulfilling its role as the government think tank and primary innovator, training personnel from both the government and private sectors.

The institution has gone through eight presidents led by founding President Onofre D. Corpuz, who served from 1973 to 1984, as well as 15 chairpersons.

Its one-week observance of its 45th year will culminate with a fellowship night where special awards of loyalty will be given along with the awards to the winners in the skills and talent competitions. It is expected to be an evening of fellowship, fun, and joy with the Academy’s 600-strong employee force in attendance at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City. – Bert A. Ramirez