Development Academy of the Philippines Chairman Cayetano Paderanga Jr. thanked President Benigno Aquino III for pioneering what he called “transformative governance” and introducing public sector reforms, helping enable the Philippines earn the designation as Center of Excellence in Public Sector Productivity of the Asian Productivity Organization.

Paderanga, former director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority who now chairs the Board of Trustees of the country’s premier academic institution for government employees, spoke about the “tremendous headway” in sustainable growth that he said the country has gained by staying on the “daang matuwid” or straight path espoused by Aquino’s administration.

Welcoming more than 200 foreign and local delegates to the 1^st International Conference on Productivity and Innovation hosted by the DAP last November 26, Paderanga said the Philippines has made significant advances in public sector productivity such that it was accorded the distinction as a Center of Excellence by the APO, a 20-country organization organized in 1961 to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Asia and the Pacific by enhancing productivity in the region.

Formally launched

The designation was formalized in launching rites that coincided with the international gathering of Asia’s productivity practitioners as well as the 4^th International Best Practice Competition, an annual international competition that was held as a component activity of the event at Novotel Manila at the Araneta Center in Quezon City,

DAP President Antonio Kalaw said the country’s designation as a Center of Excellence was considered “momentous” as the Philippines was just the third Asian country thus far to be accorded such a distinction.  The other two are Singapore, which was designated as the APO’s COE on Business  Excellence in 2009, and the Republic of China, which was selected as COE on Green Productivity in 2013.

Efforts recognized

Paderanga also thanked the APO and its 19 other member countries for “taking cognizance” of the efforts of the Philippines in promoting public sector productivity while expressing appreciation for the country’s hosting three “equally important” events that champion productivity, excellence and innovation as well as promote the implementation of best practices in both the public and private sector.

“The Development Academy of the Philippines is truly honored and proud to be at the center of these events, with the Philippine government, the APO and the Center for Organizational Excellence Research in New Zealand as partners,” Paderanga told his audience.

He then cited three “highly esteemed” men who he said have “contributed greatly” to the quest for public sector productivity.  These are Dr. Luis Ma. Calingo, a Filipino who is now based in the (United States), Dr.  Robin S. Mann of New Zealand and Dr. Brian Marson of Canada.