By Raymart Escopel
THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) Regional Office 6 awarded a public school teacher from Concepcion, Iloilo the Paman Lingkod Bayani “Parangal sa Lingkod Bayani” award on June 2.
The posthumous award was given to Rogelio P. Lardera Sr., or “Sir Elyong” when he sacrificed his life during the super typhoon “Yolanda.”
Lardera, a fifty-year-old Teacher II at Concepcion Central Elementary School, was the very first recipient of the said award in Western Visayas as an acknowledgement of his heroic deed.
Lardera is also a member of the Manaphag Quick Response Team in their community. He died when he was hit by a broken tree trunk and fell off the vehicle while on board a truck during an operation in the coastal areas of Brgy. Bacjawan Norte in Concepcion on November 8, 2013 – the day super typhoon Yolanda struck Northern Iloilo.
The award was given by CSC Regional Director Rodolfo Encajonado together with Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 Assistant Regional Director John Arnold Sienna; CSC-6 Asst. Regional Director Raymund Gonzales; Iloilo Schools Division Assistant Superintended Ferdinand Sy, and CSC Iloilo Field Office Head Evelyn Ejar.
The plaque was received by Lardera’s wife, Leonora and their 19-year-old daughter RL Easter.
The ceremony was also witnessed by members of the Regional Association of National Government Executives.
Aside from the plaque, the family of the awardee is granted of a one-time financial assistance worth P100,000 from the Pondong Pamanang Lingkod Bayan program.
In addition, three of Lardera’s children may avail of scholarship either in baccalaureate, masteral or a doctoral degree in any of the 110-member State Universities and Colleges under Pamanang Lingkod Bayani Iskolarship component.
Encajonado said the award is the Commission’s way to acknowledge civilian public servants who sacrificed their lives for the sake of others or have died in line of duty.
On her part, Leonora expressed her gratitude to CSC and the government for recognizing the heroic deed of her late husband through the “Parangal sa Lingkod Bayani” award./PN
