Environmentalist is SBMA’s 2011 Employee of the Year

An environment conservation officer who is so passionate about her work bested five other finalists and was chosen by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as Employee of the Year for 2011, the highest recognition given by the agency to its employees.

Rhea Jane ”RJ” Pescador, a 28-year old environmentalist Management specialist at the SBMA Ecology Center, was conferred the honors under the agency’s EOY program, which recognizes exemplary employees through a monthly selection process that culminates in the selection of the year’s “best of the breed.”

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said each of the monthly finalists sustained high quality and quantity of work delivered on time, manifesting the quality customer service the SBMA would like to uphold to ensure that ‘malasakit’ and honesty always come first for the good of one’s department and the Authority.

“That is why we are very delighted that these employees are part of the SBMA team,” Garcia said.

Pescador was particularly recognized for the Ecology Center's “Adopt-A-Giant Clam Program” that she conceptualized and initiated in December 2010 to encourage Subic Freeport stakeholders to help seed giant clams (Tridacna Gigas), considered a highly endangered species, in the waters of Subic Bay.

Ecology Center manager Ameth Dela Llana-Koval said that Pescador who became Employee of the Month (EOM) in June 2011, sees to it that every project she handles is excellent, not just ‘Ok’. “RJ makes it sure that the project becomes successful and more than exceeds expectations,” she added.

Pescador’s division chief, Lilia Alcazar, also pointed out that the conservation officer also thought of a way to raise funds to be used in purchasing giant clam seeds. This became the “Takbo Para sa Taklobo” fund-raising and awareness campaign that successfully involved various sectors of the Subic community.

The first edition of the “Takbo” in December 2010 was joined in by more than 1,500 runners from around the Freeport area and raised some P54,000. The second “Takbo” in December last year drew more than 2,000 participants and raised more than P84,000.

Aside from Pescador, the SBMA also honored five other winners. They are EOY first runner-up Sheryll Rose Santiago (Business and Investment Department–Leisure) who was cited as one of the top account officers of the Business and Investment Group and handles mostly large and complex accounts, like the Ayala Harbour Point mall account; second runner -up Marilou Dungog (Public Relations Department) who, aside from her administrative functions in her department, does community relations work at fisher folk communities; third runner-up Elizier Martin (Special Project Group supervisor, Maintenance and Transportation Department), who was noted for his resourcefulness and competence in completing construction work despite lack of funds; fourth runner-up Conrado Gareno (Data Comptroller, Legal Department), who was cited for epitomizing the SBMA core value and work virtue; and fifth runner-up Edgardo de Leon (Harbor Master from the Seaport Department), who ensured the safety of every vessel entering Subic Bay to load or unload cargoes.

Under the SBMA’s EOY program, two SBMA employees have been conferred the Pag-Asa Award by the President of the republic. These were SBMA printing machine operator Randy Canlas (EOY 2009) who was Pag-Asa awardee in 2010, and SBMA security officer Joel Viray (EOY 2007) who received the award in 2008.

SBMA EOY 2008 Edmund De Jesus, meanwhile, made it all the way to the Pag-Asa Awards regional finals in 2009. (RAV/MPD-SBMA))

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia, SBMA director Anne Gordon, and SBMA deputy administrator for regulatory group Joy Alvarado join SBMA 2011 Employee of the Year Rhea Jane Pescador (fourth from left) and other finalists in the competition: Sheryll Rose Santiago, Marilou Dungog, Elizier Martin, Conrado Gareno, and Edgardo de Leon.