Mayor Honey Lacuna commended the Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJASGH) after its director, Dr. Merle D. Sacdalan-Faustino, was hailed as the regional winner of the “Dangal Ng Bayan” Awards by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the kind of free medical services being offered in the said hospital, which is one of the six being run by the city government of Manila.
A thanksgiving dinner was held by the officers and staff of the JJASGH, themed “Dangal ng Bayan! Dangal ng Maynila! Dangal ng JJASGH!,” where ranking national and city officials took turns in commending Sacdalan.
City Administrator Bernie Ang led the local officials in extolling Sacdalan whom he said deserves the award after she had brought the JJASGH to greater heights. He was joined by Sta. Ana Director Dr. Grace Padilla, Secretary to the Mayor Marlon Lacson, urban settlements chief Atty. Chris Tenorio, Mayor Honey Lacuna’s chief of staff Joshue Santiago, Barangay Chairman Jefferson Lau, St. Peter’s Life and Non-Life plans owner Dr. Mildred Vitangcol, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. external committee chair Nelson Guevarra and Universidad de Manila President Felma Tria, among others.
Before this, Lacuna and Vice Mayor Yul Servo also lauded Sacdalan for a job well done, during simple rites held at the Manila City Hall’s flagraising ceremony, where the mayor also praised her for bringing the standard of public hospital services at par with private hospitals.
Sacdalan, for her part, thanked those who have supported the hospital’s endeavors under her stewardship, led by City Administrator Ang, Guevarra, Lau, FFCCCII Sec-Gen Dr. Fernando Gan and the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) headed by Itchie Cabayan as its president, whose group she lauded for reporting all the developments and programs being undertaken by the JJASGH to provide better services to Manilans.
Sacdalan, who was joined in the celebration by her 90- year-old mother Rose and siblings as well as her husband, Atty. Melencio Faustino and daughter Metea Micol, shared the award with all her co-workers saying she could not have accomplished so many things alone and without the help of all those behind the day-to-day operations of the JJASGH. She also vowed to think of ways to further improve the services that the JJASGH gives to the residents of Manila and even those living outside of Manila who come for help, as she enjoined the hospital staff to continue their dedication and hard work they provide for the patients.
The Dangal ng Bayan (DNB) Award or Outstanding Public Officials and Employees’ Award for exemplary ethical behavior which was given to Sacdalan, is conferred on an individual for performance of an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of observance of the eight norms of conduct provided under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, namely: commitment to public interest; professionalism; justness and sincerity; political neutrality; responsiveness to the public; nationalism and patriotism; commitment to democracy and simple living.
It was learned that the JJASGH was also awarded with ISO 9001:2008 Certification on July 8, 2016 and has successfully transitioned to the latest version ISO 9001:2015 on August 8, 2018. An ISO Certified institution means it follows international standards, procedures and service quality.#