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Region 12's Strategic Planning Workshop for Year 2009
The City of Cebu was the home to NSO SOCCSKSARGEN’s Regional Planning Workshop (RPW) for 2009. This annual activity of the office went off last December 16 to 18, 2008 at Golden Peak Hotel and Suites. The dynamic spirit of Cebu became the motivating factor for the twenty-five selected personnel of the region who were all set to realizing this year’s theme, “NSO: Gearing for global challenges.”
Beside the comfy ambiance of the place and being in Cebu City for the first time for most of the members of the team, the participants greatly felt a lot of eagerness to start and finish well this annual convention comprising of 3-day backbreaking andmind-boggling workshops filled with activities egg on evaluating the last year’s performances relative to the results of Field Awards (FA) from years 2002 to 2008 utilizing the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis approach in the following categories: Statistical Operations, Civil Registration, Information Dissemination, Partnership and Linkages, General Administration Department; planning, setting targets and priorities for year 2009 putting accent on over and above activities; strategizing workload distribution to maximize performances; single out detailed yet feasible plans, activities and budget relative to gender and development for the year 2009; drawing out genuine and achievable commitments for the coming year as outlined in the agency’s Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP), vision, mission and core values; reviewing office policies and goals to include the 2009 FA Criteria and Guidelines; and doing sorts of stress reduction after a year’s challenging work while bringing back together friendship bonds with other team members and acquaintances with co-NSO employees from Region 4B (MIMAROPA), who also chose the same venue for their RPW.
At once, the simple opening ceremony started off two-hours after the group’s arrival at the hotel. With the first twist of this year’s RPW, an opening statement from Belinda R. Penuela, the newly promoted Provincial Statistics Officer of NS Cotabato was heard. This was shortly followed by a warm welcome message from PSO Rafael T. Sambrano of NSO Sultan Kudarat. Subsequently, each one heeded the comprehensive, moving and challenging message from the region’s dynamic Regional Director Atty. Maqtahar L. Manulon who had remarkably said it all! The Regional Director stressed in strong terms the phrase “DO EXTRA WORK AND WALK EXTRA MILES” in his vision to lift SOCCSKSARGEN Region to the rank of performers. He called attention for everyone to strategize, work hand in hand, foster discipline in one’s work and conviction to make the vision of achieving excellence of reach. The activity pursued as scheduled with the usual reminders of house rules and synopsis of the activities.
Kicking-off the formal workshop and serving as benchmarks for the planning sessions, the Assessment of Field Awards (FA) Results, both at the regional and each of the provincial levels started off. It began with Assistant Statistician Silva’s presentation of the 16 years of FA performances of the region since year 1992. Quite distressing though that the recent rank of the region is placed at 8th position among the 17 regions in the country which is one notch lower as compared to last year, still, the group was driven to achieve more after taking a careful look of the SWOT analysis. Afterwards, a swift yet thorough review of the three (3) provincial offices under the Region 12’s wing was paid attention to. Indeed, it was a noteworthy activity as it reflects the region’s forthright recognition of their strengths and opportunities to outdo weaknesses and threats.
 Linking up with what has been identified in the above activity, the presentation of the 2009 Field Awards Criteria and Guidelines was then carried on. This was the task especially given to PSO Ruben D. Abaro, Jr., who made NSO SOCSARGEN reached the 5th rank from among the eighty (80) NSO Provincial Offices of the country for this cycle. The most rewarding part for the said province was reaping this year’s highest award for the Partnership and Linkages Category. Aside from the key aim of imparting the FA 2009 Criteria and Guidelines, he too shared heaps of tips on how to do extremely well for the next FA cycles with the end goal of providing quality public service while rising up the organization’s level of performances and meeting individual fulfillment. After understanding the new highlights of the FA 2009, the assembly went on the workshop and presentation of the Plans and Targets for 2009 and the Workload Analysis and Personnel Assignments, utilizing the APW Forms 1 and 2, respectively. Summing up the first day’s activity was the rousing message from RD Manulon, accenting each one to take active role in transforming their respective organizations into a better working place that caters room for enhancement, striving even harder to boost each worker’s morale and competence.
Still at the heart of Cebu City’s main business district, the second day (December 17) of the workshop commenced. In order not to idle away the hours while the revered guests composed of Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta and her Executive Assistant III Clemente S. Manaog were still not around, the assembly went on with the other line up of tasks to be accomplished for the day.
With everyone sitting in judgment, the workshops and presentations of Commitments and Performance Indicators (APW Form 3) and Gender and Development Plan and Budget (APW Form 5) were grasped and understood. Just in time, the much awaited guests arrived. At once, RD Manulon was called on the platform to introduce the keynote speaker of this year’s RPW. With glee, everyone applauded for the Administrator’s presence. The Administrator foremost extended her holiday greetings to everyone and shared the same message she gave during the recently concluded National Planning Workshop (NPW) at Davao City during the early week of December. She underlined the call for everyone to instill the core values of the organization and the attitudes of excellence and professionalism in all endeavors. Afterwards, RD Manulon presented the region’s Plaque of Appreciation to the Administrator for serving as the Keynote Speaker.
As programmed, the Administrator’s Hour followed. It was hilarious though, that the Administrator herself, instigated the session by giving out clear-cut answers to the expected questions. Then the rest of the proceeding was dominated by mixture of inquiries relative to the allocation of motorcycle for SCO IIs, estimated date of release of results of the indicators from the 2007 POPCEN, Health Care Card, Rationalization (RAT) Plan, merging of statistical agencies relative to the reorganization of the Philippine Statistical System, training on small area estimation for provincial statisticians, proper use of allocated office vehicles, probable transfer of NSO Regional Office XII to Koronadal City, among others.
 The afternoon schedule was reserved for the array of presentations of milestones and accomplishments for year 2008. Then impressive audio-video summarizing the year’s activities in the field were enjoyably viewed. With time passed running out of schedule brought by the group’s request for a free tour at Cebu City’ famous places of attractions, the giving out of early Christmas surprise and memento for this year’s RPW were done. And next was the pictorial that completed the day’s conference. Taking the time off after the 2-day grueling planning tasks, the group hurriedly roamed around Metro Cebu, visiting the sanctified Taoist Temple, the Dakbayan sa Sugbo’s busy dried fish market of Tabo-an, and the famed Shamrock store.
Continuing the time-out was the team’s learning adventure to the island paradise province of Bohol on December 18. The famous Chocolate Hills, the floating restaurant at Loboc River, the province’s biggest phyton named Prony, the revered Baclayon Church, cluster of souvenir shops, and historic Blood Compact site completed the day’s remarkable escapade. Then the group took time sharing individual encounters from the trip while on-board the ferry’s top deck where the brief closing activity for the year’s RPW was also done.
Leaving behind the fruitful RPW experience plus the amazing tour at Bohol, the Region 12 team left Ciudad de Cebú filled with enthusiasm to dynamically pull off the set challenges, plans, targets and strategies to excel for year 2009 and beyond. |
