P-Noy lauds ‘New breed of leaders as partners in nation-building’

MANILA, Philippines - The First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA) — the dedicated corporate university and training and leadership development institute of the First Pacific Group of Companies — joined the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) first batch of Cadet Engineering Program (CEP) graduates for a courtesy call to President Aquino III in Malacanang last March.  

In his welcome speech, President Aquino commended the first batch of CEP graduates for successfully accomplishing the rigorous program, at the same time acknowledging their pivotal role in the country’s infrastructure development platforms.

“By harnessing your knowledge and ethical virtues, you have deepened your commitment as public servants. You now possess the professional maturity and leadership competency that empower you to become key partners in nation-building,” he said.

The President also lauded the DPWH and its implementing partner, the FPLA, for this milestone initiative, as the CEP program further cemented the government’s advocacy of transformation and good governance. 

“By investing on young and bright minds, we are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century with more modern and cost-efficient infrastructure plans. Indeed, the country is very much on its way forward as it will be seeing a generation of innovators that will make a great difference in the years to come,” the President added.

As part of the Aquino administration’s Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Program, the DPWH implemented its first Cadet Engineering Program, an initiative by Secretary Singson aimed to set new entry standards for civil engineers in the bureaucracy.

The FPLA, under the stewardship of executive director Roy Agustin Evalle who is also the general manager for leadership succession and development of the First Pacific Group, co-designed and conducted the Philippine government’s very first CEP program which aimed to raise a new breed of young, committed, and empowered civil engineers who will drive positive change in the organization.  

The first batch of CEP graduates, composed of 40 civil engineers, have been previously selected by the DPWH in January 2013 to undergo an extensive 26-week course which focused on the development of technical and professional competencies of career aspirants in the department.  

To achieve this, the program has involved the trainees in multiple participatory learning spheres, such as academic classroom studies and immersion in the bureaus, services, regional and district offices to ensure that the cadet engineers develop into well-rounded and competent members of the organization. 

To foster a deeper sense of organizational ethics and individual moral fortitude, integrated in the CEP program is a mosaic of training perspectives: field exposures, values formation, leadership and professional image enhancement workshops, and a host of enrichment activities that familiarized the cadets with the Department’s structure, processes, facilities, personnel and culture. Every facet of the program targeted at facilitating the Cadet’s understanding of public service as a career and as a commitment which fosters personal integrity very much needed in a line of work that is beset with ethical challenges.