President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday bestowed the Presidential Award on 24 members of his Cabinet, a week before his administration steps down from office.
During the “Conferment of Presidential Awards to Various Heads of Departments and Agencies,” held at the Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace, Aquino awarded the “Presidential Medal of Merit” to the following:
Susan Reyes, Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Social Secretary; Celia Anna Feria, Chief of Presidential Protocol; Emmanuel Esguerra, Director General of National Economic and Development Authority and Secretary of the Socio-Economic Planning;
Manuel Quezon III, Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office; Lilia de Lima, Director General Philippine Economic Zone Authority; Gerardo Angelito Esquivel, Administrator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System;
Robert Vergara, President and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System; Arnel Paciano Casanova, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority; Mary Ann Lucille Sering, Secretary of the Climate Change Commission;
Chito Cruz, Chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and General Manager of the National Housing Authority; Cesar Villanueva, Chairman of the Governance Commission for Government Owned or Controlled Corporations;
Aquino bestowed the “Order of Lakandula” award on the following:
Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, Director General of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Luwalhati Antonino, Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority; Cesar Garcia, National Security Adviser and Director General of the National Security Council; Mario Montejo, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
Ramon Jimenez, Secretary of Department of Tourism; Mel Senen Sarmiento, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government; Corazon Soliman, Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Janette Garin, Secretary of the Department of Health; Voltaire Gazmin, Secretary of the Department of National Defense; Rosalinda Baldoz, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment; Armin Luistro, Secretary of the Department of Education; Rogelio Singson, Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (not present | represented by his family); and Jose Rene Almendras, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs/ Cabinet Secretary/ Secretary of the Department of Energy.
In his speech, Aquino said the government continued a healthy tradition of gratitude —recognizing those who have served the country and the administration by means of the honors of the Republic.
“All of you in this hall have answered the call to bring change to our country and I, myself, am a witness to the depth of your sacrifice,” Aquino said.
Aquino said some of his Cabinet members have put their own lives in peril, not once but multiple times, responding to disasters both natural and man-made.