Gov. Pineda receives a model of a public school building from DepEd-Pampanga’s Capulong. Joining her are (L-R) Board Members Monz Laus, Fritzie David-Dizon and Ric Yabut.
Photo by Ric Gonzales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— In only her first term, some 15,000 were gainfully employed through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), earning for Gov. Lilia Pineda awards of recognition in the field of livelihood generation and cooperative development.
PESO Manager Luningning Vergara cited a recent report that 14,992 people were hired through the “all-out” support of Pineda, Vice Gov. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao and the provincial board led by 3rd District Board Member Monina “Monz” Laus, chair of the committee on trade, industry and commerce.
As Pineda’s schedules disallowed her from personally receiving the Most Outstanding Governor in the Philippines at the 12th National PESO Congress in
Baguio City last week, the award was received in her behalf by Vergara who in turn handed it to the governor at Monday’s flag-raising rites.
Vergara said the governor’s was recognized principally for the “PESO in barangays” she initiated in all of Pampanga’s villages, allowing her almost two million constituents to have access to information and assistance offered to local and overseas workers.
“Others have the same project in barangays but it’s difficult to be successful when there is no support. Gov. Pineda is supporting our projects very well,” said Vergara.
She was also awarded for the third time in three years as National Best PESO Manager Award first class province which elevated her to the award’s hall of fame.
Vergara disclosed that Pineda stared the PESO in barangays project when she was still mayor of Lubao: “She has done it before as mayor, she now continues and expands it as governor.”
Earlier this month in Cagayan de Oro city, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) also cited Pineda for her outstanding contribution to development of cooperatives in the province as well as in the region.
As she also failed to receive her award personally, it was handed to her also last Monday by Mildred Esguerra of the CDA.
In a speech, Esquerra said the Pineda government was “innovative and remarkable” in pushing for the welfare of cooperatives in the province. She added that Pineda and her people led by Provincial Administrator Andres “Jun” Pangilinan were able to raise at least P34 million funding for cooperatives.
For her part, Pineda credited Guiao, the board members and the Capitol officials and employees that allowed them to win the awards.
“I am just a part of the over-all success. This award is for all of us and some others at the Capitol even deserve higher recognition,” said Pineda.
Also last Monday, Nicolas Capulong, OIC-district superintendent of DepEd-Pampanga lauded Pineda for allocating ssome P175 million for various projects to improve the state of public schools in the province, of which P150 million have been used.
Capulong handed Pineda a token of recognition for her contribution to public education.
