LAST October 2, 2017 (Monday), Scofad (Senior citizen official for a day) officials took over the positions of the top local officials of the City of Baguio.
Six of such Scofad officials came from the Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation, Inc. (Barp). One of them was Juanita Gabaen, an Ed.D. by profession. She was chosen to replace City Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
It came to my mind to feature her in today’s Snapshot column because she alone cared to make a formal report of the day’s activities to her constituents. In other words, she took her job seriously, something much expected of a government official, especially that she signed the receipt of her payrolled incentive that day.
It was indeed a historic first, akin to what our lone Congressman Mark Go did when he gave his sort of Soda (State of the District Address) last July 3, 2017 during the City Hall flag raising ceremony.
By accomplishing a formal report on her understandably memorable day’s performance and accomplishments, ex-Scofad Mayor Gabaen showed that she took her role seriously to serve her constituents.
She imbibed in DepEd the principle in government service that “You may have done many things in your assigned job but if you have no documentation thereof, you have done nothing.” Furthermore, Gabaen did not miss to copy-furnished the BARP Publication Office.
By that, she proved that she was not a let-down to her organization and believed in the power of its media outfit to influence people no matter how simple-looking for the moment.
Thank you, Apo Juanita, for giving the recognition. It, in turn, inspires our production crew to perform better and higher.
The report is logically divided into five major parts. The first part states the objective, scilicet, to act as the Senior Citizen Officer (as City Mayor) for a Day on October 2, 2017. The second part gives the four legal bases for the brief transfer of power, namely: R.A. 192; Presidential Proclamation 470, s. 199; Administrative Order of the City Mayor, Mauricio Domogan, s.2017; Coordinatorship of the City Social Welfare and Development Office/CSWDO.
The third part mentions the activities undertaken which consists of three sub-parts, which are: 1.) Assembly to the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Flag Pole area, front of the City Hall Bldg., and then breakfast.
The flag-raising included among the routinary items the courtesy call by Miss Baguio 2017 and the presentation of and acceptance by the Scofad officials of their respective functions followed by the turnover of work by regular officials to the Scofads in their respective assigned offices, rooms and units.
The third part of the Third Major Part lists the specified tasks turned over to be done by the Scofad City Mayor: 1. Meeting, under the guidance of Mayor Domogan, the various functionaries of the Mayor’s Office, like the secretaries, as well as scheduled visitors and clients.
With her Scofad sash on, she took care of “volumetric” documents, communication papers, legal inquiries, follow-ups, further explanation of mayor’s orders, complaints, appeals, demotions, barangay concerns, road-construction, traffic congestion, night market and so on and so forth.
Literally, “ad infinitum”, according to her, “catering to varied topics unlike in line agencies where attention is concentrated to matters involving the particular line, like DA, DOST, Dep-Ed., etc.”
Under “Other Observations”, Gabaen thoughtfully mentioned that the “City Mayor’s Secretaries, Assistant and Private, and other staff are vigilant, alert, open arms for any assistance to anybody who comes to the office…” With their help, she said, she did feel at ease and could function for the regular mayor who had to go out for other appointments.
As afterthought, Gabaen wished that the mayor’s office be enlarged to accommodate more people; she mulled, too, that acculturation education of Muslims in the city be done in conjunction with Dep-Ed.
The other Scofad officials from Barp where:
1. Bureau of Mines Director Jesus Luzadas
2. City Congressman Rodolfo Abella
3. City Mayor Juanita Gabaen
4. Vice City Mayor Victorio Afalla
5. City Councilor Luz Abella
The Barp Multi-Purpose Cooperative got an award of recognition for being now a large cooperative from its former level of medium cooperative last October 2017 during the Octoberbest celebration in Baguio City.
Congratulations to the members' staff and officers who sometimes argue and debate heatedly on issues only to reunite and work earnestly together again. Most of all, thanks to the Divine Providence, the source of all good things.