An associate professor and an extension team of the Mariano Marcos State University received the Civil Service Commission Pag-asa Awards in a ceremony held on September 24 at the CSC Regional Office I in San Fernando City, La Union. 

The regional CSC Pag-asa awardees are Prof. Zaldy A. Fernandez (individual category) and the team of Dr. Marilou Lucas, Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal, Ms. Mercy Fausta Gaño, Ms. Bella Gervacio, and Dr. Sherlyn Nicolas (group category). 

A faculty member of the MMSU College of Industrial Technology, Prof. Fernandez invented machines that improve the life and productivity of farmers and fisherfolk. Most of his inventions ranked first place in various local, regional and national research symposia.

Meanwhile, the extension team won the award for the second time for its project on “Empowering Communities through the School-on-the-Air program during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The MMSU Experience.” This radio-based educational program of the MMSU Extension Directorate benefitted thousands of Ilokanos from 16 municipalities and two cities in Ilocos Norte. 

The Directorate first received the same award in 2017 for its Seedstock Dispersal Program, an extension initiative that aimed to improve the agricultural productivity and income of farmers through sustained supply and use of improved seed stocks as planting materials. 

The CSC Pag-asa Award is given to groups or individuals for their outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of the government. 

The awarding ceremony was part of the 123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary celebration with the theme, “Transforming Public Service in the Next Decade: Honing Agile and Future-Ready Servant-Heroes.” (JVBT/DPT, StratCom)