Elesita Dela Cruz, is a houseparent at the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC), a facility managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development located in Lubao, Pampanga. 

She is a 63-year-old widow, who strived to improve herself by pursuing personal and professional growth in her chosen field. 

Despite being in government service for 21 years, particularly taking care of underprivileged, neglected and abused children, Mrs. Dela Cruz's enthusiasm to help these kids live normal lives has not waned.  Though not her own flesh and blood, she loves and treats the kids as her own - teaching them good manners and right conduct, teaching them with their lessons and looking after them when they are sick and at play.   Through her efforts, the children under her care are all good performers in school; four of them even received honors and distinction.

Her unconditional love to these disadvantaged children coupled with exemplary performance as houseparent led her to covet the award for Best Technical staff (Sub-Professional) category.

As a houseparent, Mrs. Dela Cruz has received several awards and commendations in DSWD Field Office III including Model Employee Award, Best Employee Award and Most Consistent Achiever of the Year Award, among others.

On the 59th anniversary of the DSWD this January, Social Welfare and Development Acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco will honor Mrs. Dela Cruz along with seven other awardees as best performers.  The awardees will be recognized during the PRAISE (Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence) awarding ceremonies to be held at DSWD Auditorium, Batasan Hills, Quezon City on January 29, 2010.

Other awardees are:

Director Camilo G. Gudmalin of KALAHI-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) as Best Manager.  As National Project Manager of KALAHI-CIDSS, Director Gudmalin developed a multi-discipline project management office which achieved more than 90% loan disbursement rate - the highest among all World Bank funded projects in the country. His creative and innovative ideas improved the Project's systems, strategies and structures to meet daunting challenges of institutionalizing Community-Driven Development as an effective strategy of local governance that works for the poor.                 As a result, the KALAHI-CIDSS became a development model of anti-poverty programs and became a study of interest both locally and internationally.     

Field Office XII Assistant Regional Director Gemma N. Rivera is the Best Assistant Manager.   ARD Rivera was cited for outstanding performance as Project Manager of KALAHI-CIDSS.  Under her stewardship, DSWD-Field Office XII received citations and awards every year-end assessment of KALAHI-CIDSS.  She was in fact Best Regional Project Manager in year 2007.  As Assistant Manager, she is well-rounded especially in planning, directing, policy development and networking and has demonstrated a leadership style adaptive to the culture of the region.  

Ms. Ma. Vilia L. Vigil of Field Office XI and Ms. Nora dela Paz of Field Office I are Best Division Chiefs in the Technical and Support Staff-Categories, respectively. As Chief of the Operations Division of Field Office XI, Ms. Vigil was nominated for her innovation of "time and motion" tracer slip for the clients of the Crisis Intervention Unit which facilitated speedy processing of assistance.

On the other hand, Ms. dela Paz is known for her contributions in the implementation of reforms in DSWD Field Office I such as: streamlining of the procurement process, establishment of inventory system of supplies and equipment as well as disposal management system, enforcing the use of pass slip and gate pass for equipment, and the "No DTR, No Salary" policy, among others.  

For the Best Technical Staff -Professional category, the award will be given to Ms. Raquel E. Nuñez of Field Office XI.   Her expertise in case management, child abuse cases, children in conflict with the law (CICL), adoption, women in especially difficult circumstances and critical incidence stress debriefing contributed significantly on the overall high performance rating of Region XI.  One of the innovations introduced by Ms. Nuñez is the use of the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) scheme for the cash grant provided to rehabilitated CICL, wherein the parent and the child are given livelihood training as well as basic business management training to enable them to manage the cash grant efficiently and profitably as seed capital for livelihood.

Mr. Antonio R. Dolaota of Field Office VII and Ms. Nida M. Bolilan of Field Office XI will receive the Best Support Staff Awards in the Professional and Sub Professional categories, respectively. Mr. Dolaota has introduced several innovations that resulted beyond being named as Best Regional Financial Analyst, Best Regional Finance Focal Person, Best LGU Engagement Award of KALAHI-CIDSS.  He was also given statement of support by Local Officials of the Municipality of Danao for his strong commitment and dedication to public service. 

Ms. Bolilan was cited for her contributions in disaster management and operations in Region XI.   She was awarded the Plaque of Recognition as Evaluator in the GAWAD KALASAG for Excellence in Disaster Risk Management and Humanitarian Assistance given by the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) in 2009 and has been previously named Best Support Staff, Non-Professional category in Field Office XI. 

Acting Secretary Yangco said that all the awardees underwent a thorough selection process and were assessed based on work performance, managerial and leadership competencies, management of resources, networking and advocacy as well as professional contribution to the Department. 

The PRAISE award is given annually in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions of the Department's employees.  The Civil Service Commission mandates every Department or agency in the government to establish an incentive awards system for its employees.

The PRAISE is designed to encourage creativity, innovativeness, efficiency, integrity and productivity in the public service by recognizing and rewarding officials and employees for their contributions in the improvement of government operations.

Aside from the plaque of recognition the awardees will also receive cash awards.  #