Dr. George De La Cruz, a Senior High School teacher of Handumanan National High School in the Division of Bacolod City, Department of Education, is a regional winner for the 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers conducted by the Philippines Civil Service Commission.
Out of the 47 nominees in Region VI, De La Cruz is one of the 29 winners, and was endorsed by the Committee on Awards to the National Honor Awards Program (HAP) Secretariat, for further assessment, this time to determine for the national winners.
The Search consists of three categories: Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, CSC Pagasa Award, and Dangal ng Bayan (DNB) Award.
Outstanding Public Officials and Employees (Dangal ng Bayan Award) is an accolade conferred on an individual for the performance of an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior as outlined in Republic Act No. 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.”
The conferment of the awards forms part of the CSC’s advocacy of promoting excellence and recognizing as well as rewarding civil servants for outstanding performance, contribution, and achievements, and/or consistent manifestation of exemplary ethical behavior in the public service.
The Search for Outstanding Government Workers is mandated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Executive Order No. 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987, Executive Order No. 501, series of 1992, as amended by Executive Order No. 77, series of 1993, and Republic Act No. 6713. As provided under Section 35, Chapter 5, Book V of the Administrative Code of 1987 on the Civil Service Commission, the CSC shall act as the Honor Awards Program (HAP) Management Team and shall conduct the annual search for public exemplars.
Also, De La Cruz is a qualifier in the search for Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos 2023. Out of 585 nominations from the academe, military, and police sectors, it has been reduced to 191, with De La Cruz as one of the 137 teachers, 26 soldiers, and 28 policemen.
The annual excellence recognition program honors exemplary Filipino teachers, soldiers, and police officers whose contributions in their professional service and respective communities are worthy of emulation.
The awardees embody the meaning of “Beyond Excellence” for rendering service beyond their call of duty thereby influencing their peers and sectors. Their accomplishments and community involvements have helped shape a better society as well as created a lasting positive impact upon the people.
De La Cruz is a multi-awarded teacher in school and the community, including national and international accolades.
As a global teacher, De La Cruz has been awarded ‘Advocate of the Month’ by the Global Schools Program of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network for his active role as advocate and mentor for Education for Sustainable Development.
De La Cruz advocacy works on SDGs was part of the launching of “Practicing Education for Sustainable Development: Case Study Guide for Educators”, a guidebook showcasing the experiences of 31 Global Schools Advocates’ SDG-related lessons and projects that were incorporated in school curriculum and communities in different parts of the world.
He was a featured speaker during the 9th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the context of the Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development, on September 20, 2021 where he spoke about the Project-Based Learning Approach anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals. He had been a speaker to various international webinars, boot camp, and trainings.
De la Cruz is a recipient of various scholarships and short courses, training programs, and grants by the UNESCO APCEIU, Cambridge University, Stanford University; also, to include as a scholar of the National Commission for its Diploma in Cultural Education through the Western Mindanao State University.*
