Former Public Works chief Rogelio L. "Babes" Singson has been hailed by the big business group Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) as its Management Person of the Year 2024.
In a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 9, MAP said Singson, who is currently president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), is the 48th person to receive this prestigious award in its six-decade history.
For MAP, Singson ticked all the boxes of the award criteria, namely: contribution to nation-building and values formation; effective stewardship within the confines of the highest standard of business and management practice, as well as integrity, leadership, and management qualities.
In particular, Singson was selected as this year's awardee "for implementing a good governance and anti-corruption program in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which changed its image from one of the most corrupt agencies to an acknowledged efficient line agency under his stewardship during the term of President Benigno Aquino III," MAP explained.
Also, Singson was cited for his share in "reshaping national values" due to his ethical conduct, humility and spiritual uprightness, MAP added.
Singson has likewise "set an example for Filipino managers through an unblemished track record of integrity, managerial competence and professional leadership in his management career in both private and public sectors, particularly in the areas of public-private partnership, tollways management, water and power utilities privatization, airports, seaports and resorts," MAP noted.
In his current role as head of MPTC that's part of tycoon Manuel "Manny" V. Pangilinan's companies collectively more popularly known as the MVP Group, Singson has been active in these firms' "substantial contribution" -- through job generation and income opportunities — to national development, according to MAP.
Singson joins the illustrious roster of former Management Person of the Year awardees, which included the following movers and shakers of Philippine business: Washington Z. SyCip, the first awardee in 1967; Geronimo Z. Velasco (1977); Henry A. Brimo (1978); Jose M. Soriano (1979); Cesar E.A. Virata (1981); Jaime V. Ongpin and Vicente T. Paterno (1982); Dante G. Santos (1983); Cesar A. Buenaventura and Roberto T. Villanueva (1985); Jaime Zobel de Ayala (1987); Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. (1988); Jose B. Fernandez Jr. (1989); Raul T. Concepcion (1990); Oscar J. Hilado (1991); Alfonso T. Yuchengco (1992); Juan B. Santos (1994); David M. Consunji and Rizalino S. Navarro (1996); Gabriel C. Singson (1998); as well as Delfin L. Lazaro and Henry Sy Sr. (1999).
The awardees since the 2000s included: Oscar M. Lopez (2000); Tony Tan Caktiong (2002); Jesus P. Tambunting (2003); Rafael B. Buenaventura (2004); Manuel V. Pangilinan (2005); George S. K. Ty and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II (2006); Jose L. Cuisia Jr. (2007); Antonino T. Aquino and Jesus P. Estanislao (2009); Lilia B. de Lima and Ramon R. del Rosario Jr. (2010); Erramon I. Aboitiz (2011); Aurelio R. Montinola III (2012); Edgar O. Chua (2013); Albert F. del Rosario (2014); Amando M. Tetangco Jr. (2015); Teresita Sy-Coson (2016); John L. Gokongwei Jr. (2017); Fernando Zobel de Ayala (2018); Nestor V. Tan (2019); Federico R. Lopez (2020); Carlos Chan (2021); Isidro A. Consunji (2022); and Ernesto Tanmantiong (2023).
Singson will be officially conferred with his Management Person of the Year 2024 citation during ceremonies to be hosted by MAP on Nov. 25.
The annual award is given to business or government leaders "who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management and have made valuable contributions to the progress of the country and in re-shaping national values," MAP said.
Following stringent and thorough selection, this award fetes "exceptional persons who have posted a record of achievement and distinction as leaders and managers of organizations, and who are exemplary models who deserve to be emulated by their peers and by the younger leaders and managers," MAP added.