PASAY CITY, Philippines — The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) marked a significant milestone in public sector excellence during the Second DAP Graduation Ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center. Anchored on the theme “Dangal at Galing para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the ceremony honored 1,062 graduates from DAP’s academic, executive, and certificate programs, including the country’s first-ever batch of APO-Certified Productivity Specialists.  A highlight of the event was the formal recognition of the inaugural batch of eight Certified Productivity Specialist (CPS), conferred under the  Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Accreditation and Certification Program. The DAP Certification Body (DAP CB) serves as the official APO-accredited certifying body in the Philippines for the CPS certification scheme. Notably, seven of these awardees earned certification with Public Sector Productivity Practice, reinforcing the country’s push for more efficient,innovative, and results-oriented governance. In his message, Acting DAP President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian underscored that the true value of advanced learning lies in its ability to “translate into better societal outcomes” by developing leaders who can convert policy into meaningful and measurable impact. This message was echoed by DAP Board Chairperson and Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary, Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, who highlighted that strengthening such specialized competencies enables public servants to deliver results that directly improve the lives of Filipinos. Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto, the Guest of Honor, reminded the graduates of their role as “stewards of the public good,” calling on them to confront inefficiency and reduce red tape in the day-to-day realities of governance. He noted that the inclusion of APO-certified professionals in the One DAP Graduation, affirms the Academy’s commitment to developing values-driven leaders capable of building a more agile, responsive, and service-oriented government. The recognition of the first APO-certified Productivity Specialists also positions the Philippines among a select group of 12 APO-accredited certification institutions in Asia. The DAP CB currently administers three levels of certification: Certified Productivity Specialist (CPS), Senior CPS, and Master CPS. As DAP continues to support the APO’s mission of raising productivity standards across the Asia-Pacific region, it remains committed to nurturing a growing community of certified professionals dedicated to sustainable economic growth and national competitiveness. Rise to the Challenge: Become a Certified Productivity Specialist The DAP CB invites Filipino professionals engaged in productivity consultancy, training, research, and promotion to join this expanding network of experts. For more information on the certification process and application requirements, please contact: