JOSEFINA "JOSIE" MENDOZA DELA CRUZ
LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT
She is Bulacan’s 1st Lady Governor and 1st Lady Postmaster General and one of the country’s most awarded local chief executives. Backed by academic training and hands-on leadership style, she has made Bulacan one of the most admired provinces here and abroad. Governor Josefina Mendoza-de la Cruz – a pride of the Bulakenyos, is an example of a real dynamic leader of our time.
Ate Josie, as she is fondly called, is a true-blooded Bulakeña, born on February 24. Her political experiences span 27 years: she was elected number 1 and the youngest councilor of Bocaue at age 21; she assumed as Vice-Mayor of Bocaue at age 23; she was elected youngest Board Member of Bulacan in 1988 at age 29; she was the first woman to be elected Vice-Governor of Bulacan in 1992; and assumed the governorship on February 9, 1998 until she became the first duly-elected Lady Governor in 1998 via landslide victory.
Powered by a strong faith in the Bulakenyo, she brought major reforms in government service, introduced and enhanced the culture of excellence in the bureaucracy, ranked total customer satisfaction as among her top priorities and equipped the provincial government with tools of development that make them on par with the rest of the world.
Her unique yet effective style of leadership also made an impact on her colleagues, earned their confidence and made her Secretary-General of the League of Provinces of the Philippines and Chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Central Luzon both for two consecutive terms (2001-2007).
Earning the respects of other local leaders abroad, Gov. Josie became a favorite international resource person on e-governance, cooperative development, widespread participation, re-engineering the bureaucracy, local governance and improving social service delivery.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Postmaster General and CEO – Philippine Postal Corporation / Chairperson – Philppine Postal Savings Banks, Inc.
July 2011 – December 9, 2015
- Manages the Philippine Postal Corporation
- Exercised general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the Corporation;
Chairperson, Southeast Asian Commodities and Food Exchange (SACFEI)
July 1, 2007 – 2010
- Chairs the SACFEI Board of Directors in policy and planning decisions geared towards the establishment of the North Food Exchange now rising in Barangay San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan
First Lady Governor of Bulacan for 3 consecutive terms
February 1998 – June 2007
- Exercised general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the provincial government;
- Enforced all laws and ordinances to the governance of the province;
- Initiated and maximized the generation of resources and revenues of the province and ensured the delivery of basic services to the Bulakenyos.
Secretary-General, League of Provinces of the Philippines
July 2001 – June 2007
- Exercised over-all supervision of the National Secretariat of the League.
Chairperson, Regional Development Council – Region III
July 2001 – June 2007
- Acted as Presiding Officer over the Council meetings;
- Supervised implemention of major inter-provincial and region-wide development programs, projects and activities;
- Directed the formulation of a comprehensive regional development plan and preparation of a system of investment programming priorities for the region.
First Lady Vice-Governor of Bulacan
July 1992 – January 1998
- Acted as Presiding Officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan;
- Exercised the powers and performed the duties of the governor in cases of temporary vacancy.
Chairperson, League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP)
1992 – 1998
- Acted as Presiding Officer during League assembly and meeting;
- Served as representative of the Vice-Governors in national affairs and meetings.
President, National Movement of Young Legislators of the Philippines Foundation, Inc.
1992 – 1998
- Headed the organization that equips and empowers young legislators in the country.
Director, Board of Trustees – Ten Outstanding Young Filipinos (TOYF)
1996 – 1997
- A search for outstanding youth initiated by the Philippine Jaycees
Honorary Chairperson, Sulong Pa Bulacan Movement
December 1996 – April 2007
- Formed and headed the group of Bulakenyo volunteers dedicated to take part in achieving more progress for the province;
- Provided capability and livelihood trainings for SPBM members.
Elected youngest Board Member of Bulacan in 1988 at age 29
1988 – 1992
Assumed as Vice Mayor of Bocaue at age 23
1982 – 1986
Elected No. 1 and the youngest councilor of Bocaue at the age of 21
1980 – 1982
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
ELEMENTARY | St. Paul College of Bocaue, Bocaue, Bulacan First Honorable Mention, 1970 |
SECONDARY | St. Paul College of Bocaue, Bocaue, Bulacan Valedictorian, 1974 |
TERTIARY | Ateneo de Manila University, Diliman, Quezon City Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering Cum Laude, 1979 Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology Magna cum Laude, 1980 |
HONORIS CAUSA | Doctor of Humanities conferred by the Regina Carmeli College December 15, 2000 Doctor of Humanities conferred by the Bulacan State University December 4, 2002 Doctor of Humanities conferred by the University of Baliuag April 2006 |
SEMINARS/STUDIES
Philippine Delegate to the International Youth Camp, Seoul, South Korea, 1990.
Philippine Delegate to the ASEAN Youth Congress, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1991.
Participant in the International Visitors Program of the United States Information Agency, October 17, 1991.
Study Grant in Stiftung, Germany on the “German Cooperative System”, July 3-17, 1993.
Study Grant in Agricultural Modernization in Germany sponsored by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), September 16-28, 1993.
Participant in the Training Workshop of Reinventing Government: Management Strategies to increase Public Sector Productivity and Improve Budgetary Performance, held in Washington D. C. , United States on June 26 – July 7, 1995.
Head of Delegation, Study Tour of Cooperatives in Korea sponsored by the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) on March 6-8, 2003.
Participant, Observation of and Meetings with Educational Institutions and Foundations in New York, Washington DC and Chicago, U.S.A. sponsored by the Ford Foundation, March 8-23, 2003.
Participant, World Bank Conference on Bureaucratic Reorganization in Bali, Indonesia, April 29 – May 2, 2003.
Participant, ASEAN Regional Forum – Confidence Building Management Workshop at Darwin, Australia sponsored by the Government of Australia, June 1-10, 2003.
Head of Delegation, Observation Tour to the Paper Packaging Business in Bangkok, Thailand on invitation of Siam Kraft Industry Co., Ltd. on September 16-19,2003.
Guest of Chungju City, Korea for the Launching of the Mapple Juice, a joint venture of Bulacan and Chungju City upon invitation of Mayor Lee Si Jong, October 1-4, 2003.
Paper Presentor on “Enhancing Public-Private Collaboration in Public Service Delivery” in the 19th General Assembly and Conference on Public Administration and Globalization: Challenges, Opportunities and Options at New Delhi, India on sponsorship of the United Nations, October 5-10, 2003.
Paper Presentor on “Government that Costs Less and is Professional” in the Fifth Global Forum on Reinventing Government organized by the Harvard University and Government of Mexico on November 3-7, 2003.
Participant, Multi-Country Study Mission on New Public Management & Quality Improvement for Local Governance, Tokyo Japan, 2004.
Training Workshop on Corporate Governance Leadership by DAP on July 2013.
Speaker, High Level Forum on Postal Reform and Development in Asia Pacific Region, August 6-8, 2013
Speaker, World Mail & Express Asia Pacific Conference & Exhibition, Indonesia, November 14-16, 2013
European Post and Parcel Services, London, March 18-20, 2013
Speaker, World Mail & Express Europe Conference and Exhibitions, Berlin Germany, June 17-19, 2014
Speaker, Participant, Best Practices on Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Hurricanes for the Postal Sector, Chile, July 2014
Speaker, Postal Vision 2020 – Customers, Connections, Virginia USA, March 9-11, 2015
Speaker, Parcel Expo Asia Pacific Conference, Singapore, May 13-14, 2015
Speaker, 18th International Conference on Postal Automation, Vancouver Canada, May 26-28, 2015
World Mail & Express Asia Pacific Conference and Exhibition, Manila, October 19-21, 2015
HONORS/AWARDS
“MOST OUTSTANDING VICE GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINES” awarded by the Consumers Union of the Philippines on May 1, 1997.
“TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG FILIPINOS (TOYF) AWARD” for Community Development and Government Service by Philippine Jaycees, Inc. in Malacanang Palace on December 11, 1997.
“KONRAD ADENAUER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARD” conferred by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Manila Hotel on December 1999.
“ULIRANG INA AWARD” given by the National Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Foundation of the Philippines, as an Outstanding Mother in Government Service at Hotel Intercon, Manila on May 14, 2000.
“OUTSTANDING GOVERNOR OF THE PHILIPPINES” given by the Consumer Union of the Philippines on July 27, 2000.
“PRESIDENTIAL LINGKOD BAYAN AWARD” conferred by President Joseph Ejercito Estrada for successfully steering the province of Bulacan into its highly progressive stature through public service reforms and productivity measures, awarded on September 29, 2000 in Malacanang.
“HUWARANG PILIPINO AWARD” given by the Radyo ng Bayan, Philippine Broadcasting Service and Bureau of Broadcast at the Occupational Safety Auditorium, Quezon City on October 26, 2001.
“MOST OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN PUBLIC SERVICE” awarded by Filipino Chinese Federation of Business and Professional Women in the Philippines given by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang on March 20, 2002.
“MOST SUPPORTIVE GOVERNOR ON SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT” given by the Association of City, Municipality, Provincial Social Worker of the Philippines, Inc. at Westin Philippine Plaza, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City on October 9, 2002.
“MOST OUTSTANDING GOVERNOR FOR THE YEAR 2002” as part of the Local Government Award given by the office of Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Department of Interior and Local Government, University of the Philippines and De La Salle University at the Senate of the Philippines on October 17, 2002.
“WOMEN NATION BUILDER AWARD” given by the Women Empowerment and National Development at the Executive Plaza Hotel, Malate, Manila on November 29, 2002.
“AWARD FOR COMPETENCE AND MANAGEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACME – LG)” for her invaluable dedication and commitment in public service and contributing excellence in local governance given by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG III) at San Fernando, Pampanga on February 12, 2003.
“MERITORIUOS AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS FOR EXCELLENT IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE”, given by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and LOGODEF on December 5, 2003.
“MOST OUTSTANDING GOVERNOR FOR THE YEAR 2003” given by the Association of Provincial, City and Municipal Social Welfare Development Officers on October 8, 2003.
“OUTSTANDING GOVERNOR IN SOCIAL SERVICES” given by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. at Westin Philippine Plaza on October 13, 2004.
“MOST SUPPORTIVE GOVERNOR IN SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT” given by the Association of City, Municipality and Provincial Social Workers of the Philippines Inc. October 12, 2005.
“WORLD MAIL AWARD FOR PEOPLE MANAGEMENT” given by the Triangle Management Services at Berlin, Germany on June 19, 2014.
AWARDS BULACAN WON DURING HER INCUMBENCY
“MOST OUTSTANDING LGU IN POPULATION DEVELOPMENT” given by President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in Malacanang Palace on July 28, 2000.
“HALL OF FAME AWARD as MOST OUTSTANDING LGU IN POPULATION DEVELOPMENT” awarded by the Population Commission, May 6, 2002.
“GAWAD GALING POOK AWARD” given by the Asian Institute of Management, Local Government Academy and Ford Foundation for the Program ‘CONSTITUENT RESPONSIVE GOVERNANCE” at the Malacanang Palace on November 17, 2002.
“KABALIKAT AWARDEE 2002” for the exemplary contributions of the Provincial Government of Bulacan in the advancement of technical education in the country given by the Department of Labor and Employment and Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (TESDA) at the TESDA office, Taguig, Metro , Manila August 23, 2002.
“MOST OUTSTANDING COOPERATIVE-PROVINCE PARTNERSHIP AWARD” for exhibiting good governance by promoting partnership with the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan which has led to the empowerment of the Filipino communities and ensured their development. Given by the Cooperative Government Unit.
“LAND USE PLANNING AWARD” – Exemplary Performance in Land Use Planning given by the Department of Interior and Local Government and Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, October 30, 2003.
“GAWAD GALING POOK” given by the Asian Institute of Management, Local Government Academy and Ford Foundation for the Program “PANLALAWIGANG KOMISYON NG KABABAIHAN PARA SA BULAAN (PKKB) and for CONTINUING EXCELLENCE” at the Malacanang Palace, December 6, 2003.
“MOST BUSINESS-FRIENDLY LGU” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel, October 6, 2004.
“RECOGNITION OF GOOD PRACTICES ON GENDER DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL” by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) at Heroes Hall, Malacanang Palace, January 13, 2005.
“MOST BUSINESS-FRIENDLY PROVINCE FOR 2005” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Manila Hotel October 13, 2005.
“PROJECT, Joint Systems for Improvement in Education” (Project JOSIE), one of the Ten Outstanding Programs in Local Governance in Year 2005, awarded by the Galing Pook Foundation on December 20, 2005.
“2006 MOST BUSINESS-FRIENDLY PROVINCE IN NORTH LUZON” (Area Winner) and the PHILIPPINES (National Winner) and Hall of Fame Awardee, 32nd Philippine Business Conference at Manila Hotel, October 20, 2006.
“SECOND YEAR CONSISTENT REGIONAL OUTSTANDING WINNER IN NUTRITION (CROWN) MAINTENANCE AWARDEE” awarded by the National Nutrition Council on October 23, 2006.
“SPECIAL CITATION ON LOCAL CAPACITY INNOVATION FOR THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS” (MDGs) awarded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on October 23, 2006.
“BEST e-GOVERNMENT WEBSITE in the PHILIPPINES and PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD” given by the Philippine Web Awards at RCBC Plaza, Makati, December 2006.
“2005-2006 BEST PROVINCIAL WEBSITE” awarded by the National Computer Center at RCBC Plaza, Makati, December 6, 2006.
“ONE OF THE SEVEN ACHIEVERS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES” (SAGA) awarded by the Government Service Insurance System at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel, Pasay City on May 31, 2007.
“GAWAD GALING POOK AWARD” given by the Asian Institute of Management, Local Government Academy and Ford Foundation for REINVENTING PUBLIC SERVICE given at Malacanang Palace on July 28, 2008.
A MAVERICK PUBLIC SERVANT
She has always been referred to as a MAVERICK public servant. Governor Josie was an extra-ordinary leader. She may have entered through the traditional ways of politics, but she transcended the existing games in the political arena of her time and focused on improving the local government bureaucracy of Bulacan.
Governor Josefina Mendoza-dela Cruz rose thru the ranks, starting-of her political career through.
To my mind, her term may be considered “golden years” of the Provincial Government of Bulacan.
In her 3-term as the first female governor of the Province of Bulacan, she has caused the transformation of public services:
(1) Adopted policies ensuring quality service in governance.
(2) Re-organized the provincial government administration, streamlining and realigning functions, hiring highly qualified and even sending her promising employees to training courses abroad, and improvement of salaries and benefits of employees.
(3) Upgraded efficiency and effectiveness of employee services and re-tooled employees skills through adoption of technology in the workplace. It was during her term when the computerized financial systems were implemented, resulting to remarkable improvement in revenue collection.
(4) Championed participative and inclusive governance by initiating the establishment of various people’s organization as effective platform for consultation. Aside from the establishment of the different councils and cooperatives, Gov. Josie encouraged then outstanding members of the Dangal ng Lipi Awards to harness their expertise and resources and help in the efforts to develop Bulacan by organizing the Dangal ng Bulacan Foundation, Inc.
(5) Adopted business-friendly policies and promoted a thriving investment environment for the province, with specific programs for SME development and investment promotion. Gov. Josie opened doors for both foreign and local investments and pro-actively campaigned for Bulacan products through national and international market intervention programs. Her term saw the mushrooming of shopping malls in the province, as well as the aggressive commercial and industrial development in the City of San Jose del Monte, Sta. Maria, Baliwag, Plaridel, Malolos and Guiguinto. She has caused the establishment of the Bulacan Packaging Center and the Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Training Center to assist local products achieve world-class excellence and the Investment Promotion Unit. Under her term landmark ordinances were passed.
(6) Professionalized the administration of services to the marginalized sector by adopting efficient ‘ayuda’ systems. During her term, cancer patients were provided assistance for complete cycle therapies without the need of queuing in long lines for meager financial assistance. Gov. Josie implemented a system where the poor were able to access assistance with their dignity intact.
Gov. Josie paved the way for upgrading the Bulacan Provincial Hospital to the Bulacan Medical Center and has planned for the eventual offering of Medicine and medical-allied professions in the Bulacan State University. She put health care on top of her priority list in public service.
She also facilitated the relocation of squatters’ colonies in the province through the establishment of well-planned relocation communities.
(7) Her administrative competence and her unmatched dedication to the service of her constituents have deservingly earned for her administration numerous awards and citations for excellence in public service from both private and government bodies.
INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE BULACAN
Her vast experience in public service has always been characterized by integrity and a high regard for professionalism. She is clearly a visionary leader who diligently worked for the transformation of the bureaucratic helms of government to more productive provision of responsive service to her constituents. Gov. Josie was one of the few progressive-minded leaders who had the management skills lacking most local government executives during her time. She gradually unchained the shackles of political patronage in running government in order to deliver the quality of public service that Bulakenyos deserved: only the best. Hers was truly Bulacan’s golden era of governance.
VIOLETA C. LUNA
President-Emeritus
Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
As Bulacan Governor
(1998-2007)
If there is one very significant realization that the movie Jose Rizal brought to the fore-when it took the nation by storm, and moviedom as well just some weeks ago—it would be that the fire and spirit that sparked the Philippines revolution still live in the hearts of the many Filipinos. From the warm and emotional-fused recognition it received from the public, it becomes apparent that all did not end after the fireworks were unleashed into thin air amidst the hullabaloo and the merry-making on June 12, 1998. That such dogma is what keeps Bulacan province in its rightful destination and always on top of thins. As the newly-elected governor of the historically and culturally-rich province of Bulacan, she emphasizes the fact that history plays a vital role in every endeavor that Bulakeños undertake and it is the very bedrock to which the Bulacan vision is anchored on.
History would recount that Bulacan was the wellspring of some of our country’s noble heroes like Francisco Balagtas (old town of Bigaa), Marcelo H. del Pilar and his nephew, Gregorio H. del Pilar (town of Bulacan). Its once breath-taking scenery of lush greenery and clean rivers provided shelter to some of the most intelligent minds behind the revolution at one time or another, Emilio Aguinaldo’s revolutionary government sought refuge in Biak-na-Bato, in the foothills of Sierra Madre in San Miguel, Bulacan.
Calumpit, a town in the northern part of Bulacan was the scene of the decisive battle of the Philippine-American War where the army, headed by General Antonio Luna staged the historical three-week heroic resistance that paved the way to the beginning of the guerrilla war.
Pandi and San Rafael became cauldrons of insurrectionary activities undertaken by the revolutionaries.
The town of Malolos would forever be a significant part of the Philippines Independence when it served as the fountainhead of the Malolos Congress that eventually established the first constitutional republic in Asia, the Philippines Republic.
Just recently, Bulacan was chosen as the inaugural site of the centennial celebrations as well as the historical swearing-in of the 13th President of the Philippines, President Joseph Estrada, in the Barasoain Church, in the lively and colorful town of Malolos, Bulacan.
So much has changed in this historical haven so the next 100 and so years. Fast forward, the province of Bulacan at present is home 1.8 million Bulakeños. A total of 24 towns and 564 baranggays are sprawled on its immense 262,500-hectare land. Literacy rate in the province is recorded at 98-57% while the unemployment rate is 9.9%.
Since Bulacan is just a few hours drive away hours drive away from the hub of Manila, it is never left behind in terms of road infrastructures as well as telecommunication, power and water supply facilities. Industrial estates also abound in the area.
A leisurely drive along some of the streets in the key towns in Bulacan would prove that it is indeed one of the most progressive and highly developed urbanizing province in the country.
“If we will go by indicators, Bulacan apparently enjoys the honor of being among the top provinces in the Philippines and is third highest in terms of per capita income,” shares Governor Josie dela Cruz.
Bulacan holds the distinction of being an entrepreneurial community where micro finance livelihood is the name of good business. The local government provides support to small-scale businesses and a considerable amount of the province’s income is generated through its active “Cooperatives are the backbone are of Bulacan’s economy” shares the newly elected governor in an afternoon interview with the Graphic.
Consequently, the local government has designed as the Provincial Cooperative Consultant Conference, which is aimed at improving the condition of the cooperatives in Bulacan. Networking in terms of COOP consolidation and federation building is likewise being done to help strengthen market linkages.
For the meantime, the Office of the Governor has three is the cleanliness drive throughout Bulacan. It is noticeable how the province has successfully expunged its so called eyesores. The capitol, which is considered to be a symbol of every Bulakeno, is undergoing rehabilitation.
The obliteration of various squatter colonies is included in this drive as well. They were provided their own decent quarters.
The poor drainage system, which accounts for the easy flooding of some of the streets in Bulacan, is also being addressed.
The second priority of the governor is to upgrade their medical services by making hospitals viable, efficient, and effective and by increasing the competence levels of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.
“In addition, I put importance on the availability of medicine in hospitals 24 hours a day,” states the young lady governor.
Her third priority is to increase the revenue generation of Bulacan. Following this, the Office of the Governor has moved to fully computerize the capitol, which is almost completed. Real property taxes will be encoded to lessen foul play in its assessment and this will be done initially in 4 pilot municipalities.
In line with this goal is the creation of a Task Force on Revenue Evaluation and Monitoring to study and oversee the implementing and monitoring guidelines.
Presently, the local government is pulling all its resources to come up with a fully computerized system operations, specifically in the capitol. Bulacan aims to the first province to provide a complete network of data for all its municipalities, for faster and more accurate services.
Governor dela Cruz explains that aside from the above-mentioned, her office is deeply concerned with the problems of traffic decongestion, waste management, and flood control in the province. All these however, would require more new heavy infrastructures, therefore, would call for a bigger amount of money.
“We have just concluded our conceptual development plan which address these challenges. We will be working this out with the national government to secure funding for the new roads that we will have to open,” shares the governor.
Just a few months after being elected in the position, the administration of Governor Josie dela Cruz already boasts of a number of accomplishments.
In one hundred days, reforms in the local government have been made and on top of the list is streamlining the bureaucracy. The intransigent lady governor has already retrenched inefficient people in the bureaucracy because her principle is “if you don’t work, you don’t have a place in my administration.”
As a result of this, only the best people will be rendering their services to the local government. The most effective and deserving employees presently, enjoy better salaries and benefits. They are continuously trained and developed through Employees Scholarship Programs here and abroad.
In the field of health services, policy changes were made. Aside from the 24-hour availability of drugs based on the ten leading causes of hospital admission, mother and child wards were increased at the Bulacan Provincial Hospital.
Seven ambulances were incurred from the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). By virtue of Executive Order No. 98-09, an Advisory Council for Hospital Development was established for improved policy directions, to review and monitor hospital operations and recommend solutions to the identified problems.
Renovations are also being done on hospitals.
The delivery of social improved. A Social Services Task Force was created to curb unscrupulous misrepresentations as indigents goes to those who really in need and also to monitor progress of beneficiaries.
Elderly Bulakeños are also provided a center that is called Senior Citizens Center.
In terms of peace and order, Bulacan is still as active in its anti-drug campaign through the KAPANALIG (Kabataang Panlalawigang Nagkakaisa Laban sa Ipinagbabawal na Gamot) which is a seminar for both the parents and their children. The seminar creates awareness on the evils of drugs and ways to fight drug abuse.
Agriculture is still an essential part in the lives of Bulakeños. The local government has released P 10.2 M for projects that were designed for farmers who were severely affected by the El Nino. There is a continuing food-and-mouth disease control in the province. Likewise, a 5-hectare lot was reserved for carabao propagation. For irrigation and farming 7 multi-purpose drying pavements, 21 units of shallow tube wells and 4 open surface pumps were completed and are all fully-operational at present.
With these accomplishments attributed to her administration, Governor Josie dela Cruz still believes that Bulacan has a very long way to go but it definitely is getting there. However, she maintains that the problems, which existed 4 to 5 years ago when she was still vice-governor, are not anymore the very same problems that her administration faces at present.
On her part, the lady governor would like to reinforce her projects in support of women empowerment. “There is a high literacy rate among Bulakeños which means that they are highly-qualified to take on jobs. I would like to believe that my administration is giving them equal access to economic opportunities through credit assistance for their livelihood projects, which we call micro-financing assistance,” continues Governor dela Cruz.
She adds that it makes a whole lot of difference when women are extended economic assistance because when they are helped and supported, their families’ well-being are promoted as well.
Being no non-sense leader who does not leave any store unturned, what else remains to be done for the province of Bulacan when almost everything has already been well-covered and attended to?
Judging from her reaction this question, the answer was just plain and simple. Governor Josie dela Cruz confides that the biggest goal of her administration thus far, is to completely develop the western portion of Bulacan. She believes that with the development of this part, the problem of this part, the problem of traffic decongestion would be effectively solved. “I so doing, we maintain a certain balance in terms of development. I want this to be my legacy to my fellow Bulakeños,” she concludes.
However, this endeavor will call for a master plan that will have to be carefully laid down because such a project will require an enormous amount of money for it to see the light of day. Despite this fact, the governor remains optimistic that this can be done through a thorough master plan and unwavering support from the right entities.
Governor Josie dela Cruz is not a greenhorn in the field of politics. Her experience through the years has taught her what it really takes to be a public servant.
Josie as she was fondly called was born and raised in Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan to parents who were pioneers in the country of importing and exporting of veterinary products. She is the eldest among a broad of 5.
The lady governor is a double degree holder from the Ateneo e Manila University in Quezon City. She finished Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering in 1979 and Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology in 1980, Cum Laude and Magna cum Laude, respectively.
First Female Postmaster General and
Chief Executive Officer - PHILPOST
(2011 - 2015)
As she effectively transformed the Philippine Postal Corp.’s (PHLPost) into a revenue-generating government-owned agency, its first female postmaster general (PMG) and chief executive officer Ma. Josefina Dela Cruz credits her successful three-term leadership as governor of Bulacan in seeing her through.
It was during this time that she developed her skills in leadership and steeled her determination in facing challenges in public service and economics–the very abilities, which allowed her to steer PHLPost into a brand new direction today.
“There were many challenges at PHLPost when I joined the organization but none that we could not overcome,” said Dela Cruz in a one-on-one with The Manila Times for its weekly CEO Corner.
Her vast experience in public service began at an early age of 21, when she was elected as the youngest councilor of Bocaue in Bulacan, thereafter working her way up elective posts until she became the governor of the province.
Armed with an impressive educational background—graduating Cum Laude in the 1980s from two consecutive degrees, namely Management Engineering and Psychology, at the Ateneo de Manila University—Dela Cruz was considered a valuable asset in her province.
Just the same, much was expected from the achiever when she was appointed to lead the new PHLPost, and she did not disappoint. Her program, “Re-engineering PHLPost,” won the People Management category of the World Mail Awards 2014 in Berlin, Germany on June 18—an achievement she humbly attributes to the employees of PHLPost.
“We owe the all the triumphs and success of the corporation receives to every employee, especially the letter carriers. This only attests that we are heading on the right path. With this award especially we can only go forward and continue to be of service to our fellow Filipinos,” Dela Cruz said.
The World Mail Awards 2014 is the most prestigious award ceremony in the postal sector recognizing excellence and innovation as conducted by Triangle Management Services Limited.
New PHLPost
Celebrating National Stamp Collecting Month this November, PHLPost now has an established structure with better facilities and a modern fleet of delivery vehicles. Its services are no longer defined by stamps, snail mail, and paper-based money order as the agency is now scaling up to express, logistics, electronic remittance, and cross-border e-commerce.
Moreover, Dela Cruz is proud of the financial turnaround of PHLPost, having been able to remit dividends to the National Government for the first time. PHLPost earned P110 million in the first seven months of operation under the leadership of Dela Cruz who took office in July 2011.
Dela Cruz recalled, “When I came here, PHLPost had only P5 million in its coffers. That was not even enough for the one month salaries of 11,000 employees. Worse, it had P266 million loses accumulated in the past years.”
Admittedly, Dela Cruz found the situation difficult, but after her factual assessment of the organization’s situation, she determinedly gathered available resources and manpower to improve PHLPost’s operations.
Among her early triumphs was to convince Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to avail of their postal services for 2012 worth P5.6 million. Dela Cruz also persuaded other private companies to sign on for PHLPost’s courier services among them BDO and PLDT, and Philhealth and SSS.
“We are no longer limited to being a stamp company. We are now also a logistics company that can deliver cash and parcels door to door,” she said.
Dela Cruz was also able to implement new systems that resulted to favorable changes that continue to take place at PHLPost.
“If there’s one legacy I want to leave in this organization, it would be how I was able to uplift the situation of its employees who are now enjoying the fruits of those innovations,” she related.
These innovations comprise of the following:
Rationalization plan. After her strategic review of the company, 3,301 employees who volunteered to retire reduced PHLPost’s manpower, enabled the organization to prioritize its corporate budget.
“From 11,000 employees around the country, we were reduced to about 9,000,” Dela Cruz said. The savings resulting from the rationalization planenabled the Post to offer better compensation packages for employees, who previously received one of the lowest salaries in the industry. PHLPost salaries increased from 13 percent to 30 percent.”
Employee empowerment. Today PHLPost provides employees a world of opportunities, including participating in local and international trainings and conferences.
Employees are also encouraged to pursue higher degree of education or specialized courses through an Educational Assistance Program. With these, they are afforded chances to rediscover their sense of mission by conducting team-building activities, workshops and various wellness activities.
Performance management system. Employees’ performances are now planned, monitored, evaluated, and rewarded. With the Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS), corporate targets are translated to individual targets, providing every unit and employee a clear direction of what needs to be accomplish.
Open communication. Various means of communication between the management and employees are now in place. Dela Cruz takes time to travel all over the Philippines to carry out face-to-face interaction with postmasters and letter carriers so that corporate thrusts are communicated clearly and employees’ sentiments are addressed properly.
There are also corporate performance assessment and action planning every quarter, gathering of birthday celebrants every month, corporate publications every month, the PHLPost Text Alert, and use of other social media.
Better facilities and modern equipment. Dela Cruz also prioritized addressing the problem of fully depreciated vehicles, outdated machines and equipment, and manual processes over since July 2011.
With the three-year Refleeting Program, postal employees now drive new and rebranded vehicles in the transport of mails, with targets to add on 483 more vehicles by 2017.
Information technology. From traditional snail mails, PHLPost has taken a big leap to networked digital postage meter machines with initial implementation involving about 222 machines. The computerization of business processes is also ongoing.
An in-house IT department is busy developing various systems like the Financial Management Information System, Funds Management System, Personnel Management Information System, and of course the Pinoy e-mail (e-commerce platform).
Moreover, PHLPost has used IT to introduce stamps to the Filipinos in a new dimension through its “Selfie” Booth producing personalized stamps.
Added services. Besides mail delivery, PHLPost has transitioned to express delivery and moving bulk shipments like election paraphernalia and relief goods through its logistic services. Paper-based money order also no longer defines PHLPost payment services as it has migrated to electronic money transfer, bills payment, collections and payout services.
Partnerships
In collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Land Bank of the Philippines, PHLPost was able to implement payout for the poorest families under the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, even to the remotest areas in the Philippines.
It also partnered with the Department of Health in delivering medicines to the rural health units, as well as with the Commission on Election in the delivery of election paraphernalia.
The Philippines’ Outsourced Collection Industry also became an ally for PHLPost in providing bills payment and collection services. In 2012, it sealed an alliance with DHL for international express delivery services for destinations not serviceable by its in-house express mail service.
With all her achievements as postmaster, Dela Cruz said still has a greater vision for the corporation if she is given the chance to prove its worth to the public.
“I know my purpose here,” she added.
Asked whether she thinks about going back to politics, she smiled and admitted, “To be honest, I am now happy with what I am doing here. I am very grateful to those employees who fully cooperate with me to bring back to life this very office they have been serving for many years.”
Source: Manila Times