Employees recognized, vie for Employee of the Year award

Some 40 outstanding government employees were recognized last Wednesday for demonstrating excellence in their respective jobs in different departments of the government.

The Public Service Recognition Week awards presentation was held at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe and almost all the heads of government agencies were present during the ceremony. Advisers from the Office of the Governor were also present during the awarding.

PSRW and Labor Day committee chair Carmen C. Cabrera opened the ceremony by thanking all the government officials for their cooperation in celebrating the remarkable performance of their respective employees.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta briefly congratulated the awardees for this year’s recognition and also acknowledged the performance of last year’s Employee of the Year, Frank S. Pangelinan, from the Department of Public Safety, whom he said has been his jogging partner lately. Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente also attended the ceremony.

The 2005 Department Employee of the year recipients are the following:

* Department of Community and Cultural Affairs – Catherine Anderson
* Office of Public Defender – Bertha T. Camacho
* Department of Corrections – Godel Omengebar
* Emergency Management Office – Henry I. Iguel,
* Office of the Attorney General, Division of Immigration – Colin Sablan
* Public School System – Wonda Rubasch
* Department of Public Works – John Santos
* Marianas Visitors Authority – Alvin K. Fitial
* NMI Housing Corporation – Esther F. Sablan
* CNMI Supreme Court – Raymond C. Babauta
* Commonwealth Ports Authority – Chong Eniser
* Department of Labor – John Henry I. Tagabuel
* Department of Public Health – Yvonne B. Sablan
* Marianas Public Lands Authority – Frank C. Borja
* NMI Retirement Fund – Ramon C. Deleon Guerrero
* Commonwealth Development Authority – Gregory P. Calvo
* CNMI Superior Court – Katelynn M. Deleon Guerrero
* Department of Commerce – Aristona M. Tudela
* Legislative Bureau – Melchor J. Mendiola
* Senate – Priscilla M. Torres
* House of Representative – Christie S. Keptot
* Department of Finance – Dolores C. Celis
* Department of Public Safety Ernest R. Cruz
* Office of Personnel Management – Gina Mae Q. Cabrera
Fourteen government leaders were also recognized during the awarding ceremony:
* Department of Community and Cultural Affairs – Roselia C. Teregeyo
* Office of Public Defender – Antonio LG. Cabrera
* Board of Parole, Office of the Governor – Joseph T. Guerrero
* Office of the Attorney General, Division of Immigration – Edward R. Cabrera
* Department of Commerce – David R. Maratita
* Department of Public Works – Francisco C. Sablan
* Marianas Visitors Authority – Ellen Ikehara
* Department of Lands and Natural Resources – Francisco S. Tenorio
* Department of Labor – Masaaki Nakamura
* Department of Public Health – Rosa M. Tudela
* Commonwealth Development Authority – Oscar C. Camacho
* CNMI Superior Court – Evelyn P. Calvo
* Department of Finance – Jesse A. Atalig
* Department of Public Safety – Thomas M. Manglona

The overall “Employee and Leadership Awardees” will be named in September during celebrations for the local Labor Day.

DPH’s associate director for Nursing Services, Rosa M. Tudela, said it was an honor for her to be recognized, especially for her leadership at the Commonwealth Health Center.

Frank C. Borja, MPLA’s employee of the year, said he was surprised about the award. He said his peers told him last Wednesday to attend the event but he was clueless that he would be one of the awardees.

Before the ceremony, emcee Tonni Camacho gave the floor to visiting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials John McCarroll and Pat Young. The two presented a glass plaque to the Division of Environmental Quality director John I. Castro for being the only environmental government agency in the Pacific to receive an environmental award from EPA.