The 121st Philippine Civil Service anniversary celebration this month in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental is dedicated to the 13 state workers who died of COVID-19 complications.
Provincial Director Richard Ortiz of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) field office of Davao del Sur/Davao Occidental bared that the month-long celebration has kicked off Thursday (Sept. 2) with a virtual Holy Mass celebrated by the Manila Cathedral.
Ortiz said that the Holy Mass was offered for those who died and for the fast recovery of those state workers who are currently afflicted with the virus in both provinces.
The highest government official who died in June this year due to COVID-19 complications was Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas.
During Friday’s (Sept. 3) episode of GobyernongBalitaan radio program over Energy FM Digos, Ortiz bared that the other state workers who succumbed to COVID-19 were from the local government units (LGUs).
There was one reported from the municipality of Bansalan, three (3) from Digos City, both in Davao del Sur, while there were two (2)reported deaths from the municipality of Malita, Davao Occidental.
From the national government agencies, three (3) deaths were recorded from the Department of Education’s Schools Division of Davao del Sur and two (2) from DepEd Digos City, while there was one (1) from a government financial institution.
Ortiz said that they will also be paying tribute to a 50-year-old female public school teacher, who succumbed to COVID-19 complications, in an online Zumba activity to be held on September 6, 2021.
He said that the DepEd Davao del Sur teacher was a key player in the Zumba preparations, who could no longer join the online event.
Ortiz will also be leading two virtual learning and development sessions as part of the highlights of the 121st Civil Service anniversary commemoration.
As the main resource speaker, he will be tackling about “Harnessing the Hero Within” on September 9, 2021, to expound on the CSC’s Honor Awards Program, an annual undertaking that recognizes government officials and employees who have displayed outstanding work performance.
“The session will be presenting the characteristics of a hero that can be emulated by the government workers,” Ortiz stated.
The second session to be held on September 22 will discuss on “Keeping a positive mindset,” where Ortiz will give practical suggestions on maintaining a good mental health.
The last activity for the celebration is the virtual general assembly of the Human Resource Management Officers (HRMOs) in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, which will be held on September 29, 2021. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)
