Below is a write-up of Manuel Borres’ outstanding performance making him as the National Awardee for Best Division Chief – Support of the DSWD.
To be of service to people. This is a common yet a quote with a very significant meaning. Sir Manny, as he is fondly called in the Office, have lived up to the ideals of being a public servant and has remained humble despite of what he has achieved in life.
Childhood Years
Born and raised in Catarman, Camiguin, he finished his elementary education in Catarman Central School . Known to be very active in school, he was always in the top section of every year level and graduated as one of the top ten students. He graduated in Camiguin National High School. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree at Liceo De Cagayan University. He was a working student at the Department of Agrarian Reform then from second year college up to the time he graduated. On his final year in College, he took the Civil Service Exam and passed which paved the way for him to government service.
Commendable career path
Career wise, Sir Manny, is one of the few who has been blessed with a very commendable career path. He had his first taste of employment as a casual clerk with a government agency way back 1974 with a daily salary of P8.00. He was then promoted a year after with the position of Acting Statistical Aide. His first engagement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development started in 1989 when he was hired as a Project Evaluation Officer based in Surigao del Norte. Two years after, he rose from the rank to that of being a Supply Officer II at the regional office. He held this position for thirteen years. He was then promoted as Administrative Officer V in 2004 up to 2007. On the same year, he was again promoted as Chief of the General Administrative and Support Services Division. He held this position until July 15 of this year when he was designated as OIC- Assistant Regional Director for Administration.
Testimonials
Despite of the high position he has acquired, friends and colleagues can attest that he still remained the same person they have known before and until now. They vouched for his good nature, humble, and generous character.
As for Mr. Efren Villanueva, one of his friends and staff before puts it, “Mr. Borres as an immediate supervisor, was very approachable and this never changed through the years . When we make official requests,he immediately approves and makes the necessary action . He is really fit for his position. He knows how to set his boundaries. He is also very open to suggestions”.
Mr. Martin Canguit, formerly the Accounting Unit Head and now the GASSD OIC-Division Chief at the regional Office, attests that “Mr.Borres immediately takes action to whatever tasks is at hand. His support to his staffs both work-related and even personal matters is also without fail. His work attitude and his dealings with his co-employees never changed even when he already rose from the ranks. He is also good in linking with partner agencies and other organizations.”
One of the things that Ms.Evelyn Cortes (Administrative Officer) admires in Sir Manny is his being a democratic manager. “He always gives his subordinates the chance to participate in the decision-making. His management in the division pushes us to be more productive, which often results in high quality and high quantity outputs which boosts our morale as subordinates. Each unit has shared responsibilities. Though, at times, he has the final say but, he still asks around for inputs and possible solutions. When urgent concern arises, he easily acts and delegates it to concerned staff and he is always there for us 24/.”
Representations
Aside from being the Division Chief for the GASSD, Mr.Borres was also designated as the Regional Project Coordinator for the Sustainable Livelihood Program. He was actively involved and aware of the activities of the program at the regional level. He made sure that whenever available, he would represent the Regional Director in the turnover of checks to beneficiaries of the livelihood program.
“ Sir Manny is very supportive in our activities and the Sustainable Livelihood program as a whole .Be it an administrative concern or logistical concern like provision of vehicles to staff on official travel. He never fails to be present when invited in major activities like turn-over of checks to beneficiaries, Program Review and Evaluation Workshops (PREW) .As far as the program implementation is concerned, He is also very involved in helping out resolve concerns that may arise. When we conduct trainings, he makes sure that he gives the welcome message to our participants. During the turn-over of checks to beneficiaries, he always encourages and reminds the beneficiaries of their social responsibility to participate in all activities and pay their roll backs in order to sustain the program and that other beneficiaries may avail of the program”.
Being the Division Chief of a big and varied Division, the General Administrative & Support Services Division, is indeed a big responsibility. It entails a lot of decision making and a lot of concerns needing immediate attention not to mention his involvement in almost all the Committees within the Regional Office.
He also represents for and in behalf of Regional Director Solamillo in various organized committees with partner Agencies and organizations.
Mr.Borres is the Action Officer for DSWD X in the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) in Region 10. For Ms. Sonia Bacasmot (RLECC Secretariat), “Mr. Borres as the Action Man of DSWD X, is very supportive, approachable, gives inputs and advices and regularly attends our meetings except when he is on official travel. He is very concerned on issues relating to social welfare and those concerning the disadvantaged sector in our society and he really gives inputs as much as he can in related issues tackled”.
He is also the representative of the regional Office in the Regional Intelligence Committee. The said committee in their regular meetings tackles issues and concerns which primarily focus on security measures and updates between and among government agencies. As a representative, according to a reliable source from the Secretariat (name withheld for security reasons), “Mr. Borres on his part , aside from being very active is very much concerned about the security and sustainability of the programs and services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and raises issues and concerns relative to the implementation of the Agency’s programs and services and the security of the field workers particularly . Personally, Mr. Borres has learned to imbibe and practice the importance of document security as well as personal security”.
Best Practices
One of the innate skill that Mr. Borres has is his ability to easily coordinate and link , be it with partner Agencies and even to International Non government organizations like the World Food Programme. After Yolanda hit Tacloban, regional offices were directed to augment relief goods and manpower in Tacloban. The regional office then had no funds available for the transport of relief goods. Mr. Manuel Borres coordinated and requested the World Food Program to help provide for the trucks to be loaded with the relief goods which the Head, Mr. Dragoslav Djuraskovic immediately responded positively. In order that the delivery of relief goods in Tacloban be not delayed,he also coordinated with officials of the Philippine Ports Authority to give priority to the cargo trucks loaded with the relief goods in ferrying it across the Lipata port to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.
Mr. Borres is also responsible in overseeing and fastracking the installation of the CCTV cameras within the perimeter of the regional office as well as in the construction of the dormitory, the cafeteria, the Crisis Intervention Unit and Sustainable Livelihood Program. He really pushes hard his staff to perform tasks as efficiently as they can.
Other affiliations
Despite his hectic schedules, Mr. Borres is also active in joining organizations. His being an active member of the Free and Accepted Mason of the Philippines proves that his affiliations outside the workplace are also significant for him. For Mr. Roy Urot , one of their higher officers, says that “Mr. Borres is very proficient when it comes to performing his tasks as member of their organization. In fact,he has held the highest position equivalent to a President of an organization the past few years. His support, participation and attendance even in their charity work and community services were without fail. Being able to hold the position as head of our organization is no big joke and this just proves that the man holding such position is really dependable, responsible and worthy to be in that place”.
Commitment to Self and Others
Sir Manny’s main goal in life is to be of service to people. He may not be a social worker but, he has truly inculcated in himself the traits and character of a service- oriented and committed social worker. He considers helping others as a source of happiness as well as a gift to other people in need. Regardless of whoever comes to him and ask for help, and regardless if that person would also give and help him in return, does not matter to him. For as long as he can be of help, he would always be willing to extend it to others. Truly, this just shows the heart and blood of what it is to be a public servant.
Mr. Manuel Borres is a loving dad to two adorable and equally-successful daughters Mabeth and Riza and wife, Ms. Isabelita Borres, the Regional Director of Department of Education Region 3.
His story as he rose from the ranks is an inspiration to those aspiring to become the best of what they have and what they can. His testimony proves that in order to be effective in one’s profession, you do not only do things for your personal gain but, it would be more meaningful if you do it by inspiring and motivating others to push hard to bring out the best in them, and in their career.
Written by Mitzie S. Santiago, DSWD