26 govt employees recognized in Labor Day festivity

Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres and Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog sign a proclamation declaring September as Commonwealth Preparedness Month at the start of the Labor Day celebration at the Garapan Fishing Base on Friday. (Ferdie de la Torre)

A total of 26 employees across the entire spectrum of the CNMI government were recognized last Friday, when CNMI government agencies gathered at the Garapan Fishing Base in celebration of Labor Day.

According to Labor Day committee chair Eli Cabrera, the annual tradition has become an important event to recognize the hard work of every government employee, even if it is held only once a year.

Certain individuals were chosen from each department within the CNMI government to receive the “2017 Outstanding Department/Agency Employee of the Year” award. The awardees were given plaques and cash prizes.

Each agency chose one individual from their pool of employees to receive the award.

For the Department of Commerce, the employee chosen for the award was enforcement officer John Herman Hosono of the Alcoholic Beverage & Tobacco Control Division.

Merced Muña won the award for the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

For the Department of Corrections, the employee chosen to receive the award was corrections officer Benjamin Tagabuel, while Department of Finance accountant Mariana Tomokane was her agency’s employee of the year.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services and Department of Labor chose fire crew supervisor Manuel Cabrera and enforcement technician Dennis Cabrera, respectively.

For the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the award was given to administrative assistant Frank Ada, while surveyor Joseph Aldan was the winner for the Department of Public Lands.

Police officer Rhonda John and supply management officer Juan Tomokane won the award for the Department of Public Safety and Department of Public Works, respectively.

For the Commonwealth Development Authority, the award was given to loan officer Abigail Atalig, while administrative officer Rita Sablan was the winner for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ legal counsel, Wesley Bogden, and community coordinator Lucia Aldan were the employees of the year for the Governor’s Office, while executive assistant Leticia Norma Palacios won the award for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

At the Legislative Bureau, the award was given to legislative assistant Cameron Nicolas, while over at the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the award was given to administrative assistant Jason Reyes.

At the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, the award was given to computer specialist Xerxes Mangarero, while marketing specialist Laura Hsai won the award for the Marianas Visitors Authority.

Administrative assistant Becky Manalo was the winner for the Northern Marianas Housing Corp, while personnel specialist Sebastian Deleon Guerrero won the award for the Office of Personnel Management.

At the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the award was given to administrative technician Victoria Mafnas.

The Commonwealth Casino Commission bestowed the award on executive assistant Ruth Ann Sakisat.

At the Office of the Attorney General, the award was given to investigator Urbano Babauta, while plant nursery assistant Antonieto Matteo and Mildred Camacho were employees of the year at the Saipan Mayor’s Office and Scholarship Office, respectively.

Each year, government agencies get together to celebrate the Labor Day holiday and practice sportsmanship through a series of competitions.

Cabrera said the Labor Day tradition is simply a day dedicated to the enjoyment of every government employee and commemorates civil servants’ hard work in serving the public.

Cabrera added that the day is a sort of incentive to motivate employees to continue to strive to provide the best quality service to the community, like they have been doing for years.

Cabrera’s message to each individual was to enjoy the day as much as they possibly could and he also thanked government for recognizing the labor that their employees put into their jobs every day.