Outstanding. Cato proudly displays citation in the presence of Pres. Aquino and Sec. Del Rosario.
Contributed photo
ANGELES CITY — His contribution in the braintrust that moved consular offices to shopping malls facilitated passporting services and is seen to generate some P1.14 billion in government savings.
For that feat, Kapampangan diplomat Elmer G. Cato was conferred the Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Dakilang Kasugo by no less than President Aquino at the ceremonies commemorating the 114th founding anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the 148th birth anniversary of Gat Apolinario Mabini on July 26.
Cato, special assistant for special projects at the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration, was cited for initiating and implementing the DFA’s Public-Private Partnership program that established consular offices in shopping malls in Metro Manila and regional centers to improve the delivery of passport and other consular services to the public.
The program generated for the national government as much as P1.14 billion savings in operating costs over the next 10 years.
In Pampanga alone, the DFA has opened two consular offices: at Robinsons Starmills in the City of San Fernando and at the Marquee Mall here.
The first DFA office based in a provincial mall is in Cebu.
In a recent interview with Punto!, Cato said the DFA has already signed PPP contracts to pave the way for the establishment of more consular offices in SM, Robinsons, Ayala and Gaisano malls in various cities in the country.
Former journalist Cato worked as correspondent of Malaya and Manila Chronicle and served as stringer for wire agencies Agence France-Presse and Kyodo News covering Central Luzon before joining the diplomatic corps.
He also published the local weekly Angeles Sun and the monthly K Magazine.
Aside from Cato, the President also conferred the Gawad Mabini with the Rank of Dakilang Kamanong to another Kapampangan, Ambassador Laura Quiambao del Rosario, DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, for her accomplishments in the foreign service. Del Rosario previously served as Philippine envoy to Vietnam and India.
Aquino also presented the Gawad Mabini with the rank of Kasugo to Arturo Romua for his outstanding performance as head of the DFA Regional Consular Office in San Fernando, which retained its standing as the No.1 DFA regional office in terms of the number of applicants served and the number of mobile passport services conducted.
The Gawad Mabini is one of the highest awards of the country and is bestowed by the President on Filipino diplomats in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments in the Philippines and abroad.
