By Crisdeniele Clemente 

Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, CHED Commissioner and former president of MMSU, has once again been honored by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as one of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan (PLB) Regional Awardees. The award was presented today, September 27, during a ceremony at the International Convention Center of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – North La Union Campus. This is Dr. Agrupis's second time receiving this award, having first been recognized in 2020.

The PLB Award is part of the CSC's annual Honor Awards Program (HAP), which recognizes exceptional government officials and employees. This year’s HAP is part of the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, celebrated throughout September.

In addition to the regional award, Dr. Agrupis has been nominated for the National Lingkod Bayan Award and is currently one of the semi-finalists.

During her tenure at MMSU, Dr. Agrupis steered the university to national and global prominence through her 7-point agenda, known as ACHIEVE. Under her leadership, MMSU sustained its global standing, earning recognition in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and the World University Rankings for Innovation. Moreover, MMSU achieved an impressive four-star rating in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars Rating System. Dr. Agrupis also led initiatives in research, extension, and development, notably the Bioethanol Research and Extension Program, the Tuklas Lunas Development Program, and the Black Garlic Research Project.

Dr. Agrupis was recently appointed as a Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). She took her oath of office on September 3 in Quezon City, before CHED Chairperson J. Prospero E. De Vera III. She was then sworn in by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on September 9 at Malacañan Palace.