QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte was full of praise for the top five City Hall officials led by City Treasurer Edgar Villanueva who’ve emerged as Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) 2026 ‘Gawad Pagasa’ awardees.
“As I congratulate them on behalf of ‘QCitizens’ and City Hall employees for a job well done, I am taking pride of them for showing to the public how the city government people are working with dedication, competence and excellence,” said Belmonte, who’s CSC’s 2025 Gawad Lingkod Bayani recipient for her “exceptional contributions with nationwide impact particularly in areas of public interest.”
Aside from Villanueva, other city government officials who’re honored with the Gawad Pagasa awards held recently in Intramuros, Manila were Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, Business Permit and Licensing Department head Margie Mejia, city’s Department of Building Official chief Isagani Verzosa Jr. and Engelbert Apostol, head of the city’s Public Affairs and Information Service Department (PAISD).
Thanking Belmonte for her brand of leadership which redounds on city officials like him, Villanueva, in a Viber message to Good Riddance, gave much of the credit to the entire city treasurer’s office workforce for their trust and continued support.
“First of all, I thank the Lord for being chosen and included among the awardees. With the stewardship of Mayor Joy Belmonte, I only did what I had to do as the city treasurer—to strengthen the city’s financial position and tax collection efforts in order to fund the necessary expenditures for infrastructure, healthcare, education, peace and order, and disaster response,” ‘Treas’ Villanueva said.
A former ABS-CBN executive, Apostol said he never dreamed of becoming a CSC awardee alongside other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to public service.
“Most importantly, a leader will only soar if the team is willing and able to roll and grind just as hard. I am fortunate to have the most efficient and hardworking PAISD staff. So, we are inviting our fellow public communicators to strengthen our collaboration so we can further improve our work.”
Gawad Pagasa is designed to honor exemplary public servants whose innovations and initiatives create wide-reaching impact.
