RACO coordinator Villasis bags Hall of Fame Award

By Deodith Grace Honrado-Baticbatic

Miss Sally Villasis with PCCO Secretary Sonny Coloma.

RACO staff

Salvacion “Sally” Villasis of Aklan State University received the first-ever Presidential Medal for winning as Best Performing Information Officer in Western Visayas for three consecutive years in 2010, 2011 and 2012 during the Information Officers’ Yearend Conference at Nature’s Village in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on December 7, 2012. 

Her award as Best Performing Information Officer for 2012 and the Presidential Medal (Sagisag ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas) were conferred by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, who was assisted by Philippine Information Agency 6 Regional Director Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa. 

As the Best Performing Information Officer, Villasis was cited by the PIA for her exemplary performance in the field of government information, through information, education and communication activities in support of major thrusts and programs of government based on agency mandates and directions. 

In winning the awards, Villasis said she hopes to inspire her fellow Aklanon information officers based in their respective government agencies and local government units to sustain and enhance their information and communication work to further heighten the awareness of the public on the government’s programs and projects. 

“I give all the glory to God. This is all because of His grace”, Villasis said. 

Presently, Villasis is an Agricultural Technician at the ASU-Extension and Community Services, Station Manager of DYMT-FM Community Radio, In-Charge of Media Relations of ASU and Coordinator of the Western Visayas Agriculture Resources Research and Development Consortium-Regional Applied Communications Office (WESVARRDEC-RACO).  She is also an active member and Secretary of the Aklan Public Information Officers Association (APIOA). 

The award was conceptualized by the PIA to recognize the region’s best IOs for their extraordinary accomplishments and contribution to government information work in their respective agencies bearing implications to national thrusts in general, and come up with a documentation of impact programs in the field of development communication per province in the region. 

The criteria set by PIA in the selection of Best Performing Info Officers included personal profile, community involvement, accomplishments, citations and awards received on information work and impact projects for the period 2010 to 2012. 

PIA-Aklan Chief Venus G. Villanueva, said Villasis received the first-ever Presidential Medal, emerging as the first in Western Visayas to receive such, besting other provinces.  It was a surprise award, on top of her being Aklan’s lone awardee this year and her winning made the APIOA proud, the PIA-Aklan family and the province of Aklan.