BONTOC, Mountain Province – In a simple, but meaningful Salamat, Mabuhay Program on December 10, 2021, at the Capitol Auditorium, the municipal government honored its five retirees who are all personnel of the Municipal Health Office (MHO) for their priceless and selfless service rendered to the public.
Rosa Chegyem, a midwife who will be turning 64-year-old on December 14, 2021, has been providing health services of the government to the community for 39 years. With her commitment to her work, she was awarded as one of the Outstanding Midwives nationwide in 2001. Also, she was a semi-finalist in the 2004 Dangal ng Bayan Award for her exemplary performance and ethical behaviour on the 10th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service.
Another midwife, Alma Kiat-ong, 62-year-old, has been in government service for 32 years and six months. With her assignment as a midwife of Barangay Caluttit, the Barangay Health Station of the said barangay has been established, operational, and functional.
Medical technologist Jocelyn Coloma who just turned 63-year-old on September 9, 1958, has spent 36 years and seven months in government service. She spent five years in Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital before she transferred to Bontoc. It was during her stint as the medical technologist that the Bontoc MHO became the first in the municipality of Mountain Province to be accredited as Drug Testing Center, accredited TB DOTS Center, and the Bontoc municipal government as one of the only five local governments in the Cordillera Administrative Region to be conferred the 2021 Dugong Bayani Award by the Department of Health in partnership with the Philippine Blood Center.
55-year-old sanitary inspector Maximo III Cawed has been in government service for 15 years and four months. Aside from the performance of his regular function, personnel of the MHO attested that Cawed readily extended assistance to his co-workers in the delivery and implementation of other health programs.
Midwife Pureza Paeng has rendered 15 years and seven days in government service. She was assigned in the outskirt barangays of Bontoc, with Barangay Gonogon as her latest area of assignment.
In his message, Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen expressed the profound gratitude of the people and officialdom of Bontoc for their dedication to government service. Kabluyen wished the retirees a happy life and good health as he solicited their continued support to the agency where they came from.
Sangguniang Bayan member and Committee on Health Chairperson Jerome Tudlong, Jr., thanked the retirees for their invaluable service in their long stint in government service as he encouraged them to enjoy the new chapter of their lives. Tudlong added that the excellent performance and commitment to work of the retirees is worthy of emulation by the government employees to follow and perform well too.
Sangguniang Bayan member Alsannyster Patingan who is the Chairperson on Committee on Laws, Peace, and Order and a member of the Personnel Selection Board (PSB) expressed his gratitude to the retirees for their selfless services. He recognized their contributions and efforts in the success and achievements of Bontoc for the past years.
“We acknowledge your efforts as you did your jobs the best way possible. You were also there as the municipality battled the first surges of the COVID-19 pandemic. You were all at the frontlines. We send you off to your well-deserved retirements with all the accolades there are. May all of us draw inspiration from you,” Patingan remarked.
Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Diga Kay Gomez joined the elective officials in expressing her gratitude to the retirees for many years of invaluable service and wished them the best in the new track they will be taking.
She reminisced the harmonious working relationship with the retirees for years as she lauded their work performance even going beyond their call of duty.
Likewise, Lilia Angagka, a midwife with the MHO shared fond memories working with the retirees. She mentioned that they found friends with each other’s company.
In their message, the retirees shared their learning in the government service. These include love and passion for one’s work, patience, humility, industry, sacrifice, respect to superiors, gratefulness for every blessing received to include job given to you, compassion, vigilance, and maintaining a harmonious working relationship with officemates, co-workers, and colleagues.
As they reminisced their work experiences in government service, the retirees extended their gratitude to the municipal government and to those they have opportunities to work with.
Also, the family members of the retirees thanked the municipal government officials and employees for the love, care, and friendship they have shown to the retirees. They commended the retirees for being able to perform their motherly and fatherly responsibilities at home while performing their duties and functions as health workers.
As a gesture of gratitude, municipal government awarded the retirees Plaque of Recognition. Also, the retirees received retirement assistance incentive from the Bontoc Municipal Employees Union, and tokens from the MHO. Both Kiat-ong and Chegyem received P33, 303.60 each. Paeng received P33, 360.60, Coloma received P33, 200 and Cawed received P33, 379.
The Salamat, Mabuhay Program aimed to recognize the dedication and commitment of retiring employees in government service as mandated by CSC MC No. 7, series of 1998.
The Salamat, Mabuhay Program celebration was spearheaded by the Human Resource Management Office in partnership with the MHO. By Alpine L. Killa