Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang join the government employees of the year during the Labor Day celebration at Garapan Fishing Base on Sunday.
Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita, 2nd right, holds the award on behalf of the overall government employee of the year, Yan Che Magofna, (not in photo) as she poses for a photo with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, right, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, second left, and Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, left.
THE Labor Day celebration at the Garapan Fishing Base on Sunday honored 19 government employees for their outstanding work.
The overall government employee of the year was Customs Inspector Yan Che Magofna. She could not be at the event due to an important family matter so Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita received the award on her behalf.
The other government employees of the year of their respective agencies are Saipan Mayor’s Office heavy equipment operation supervisor Mariano Aguon; Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services fire crew supervisor Albert Lee T. Aldan; Department of Public Works federal programs coordinator Kenn L. Aldan; Marianas Visitors Authority community development coordinator Jack Roman E. Aranda; Department of Community & Cultural Affairs-Office on Aging community development technician Judy I. Arriola; Department of Commerce-Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control enforcement officer Florita S. Billy; Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality federal grants coordinator Rikki C. Camacho; Joeten-Kiyu Public Library assistant Caitlyn Joan Crisostomo; Department of Public Lands surveyor Joaquin D. Diaz; Department of Lands and Natural Resources administrative officer Tina Marie Leon Guerrero-Camacho; Northern Marianas Housing Corp. administrative receptionist Hensley Litulumar; Department of Corrections Officer Johanna K. Lizama; CNMI Scholarship administrative officer Monica V. Manibusan; Civil Service Commission-Office of Personnel Management human capital management specialist Porsche P. Masga; Homeland Security and Emergency Management state warning point officer Jose C. Naputi; Department of Public Safety Police Sgt. Jeffrey I. Norita; Department of Labor enforcement specialist Norlane Arlene V. Rafana; and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. general surgeon John Yarofalir, MD.
Also receiving awards were Northern Marianas College’s non-instructional faculty of the year William Hunter; faculty of the year Barbara C. Hunter; supervisor of the year Dave Attao; and counselor of the year Malyssa Castro.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios congratulated all the awardees. He said the gathering on Sunday was not just about getting together; it was also about celebrating the hard work of everyone in the public and private sectors.
He said it is with a deep sense of humility that he and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang recognize the “sacrifices” that many government employees have to make in the last two years because of the “restrictions on financial resources” that his administration has to work with “at the level when we first came in.”
“Nevertheless, let me make this clear. The lt. governor and I and … your department heads and program heads continue to work and do our part to ensure that we look forward very soon, when we will … leave austerity Mondays,” the governor said.
He said he knows in his heart that “we can get this done.”
“It’s already two years of sacrifice. We’ve got to pay attention to our people, our employees and yes, the impact we have on our community. I believe that we have stabilized enough. So yes, the secretary of Finance is hereby instructed to figure it out with all department heads, for the next fiscal year. We will get it done, we will figure it out,” he said.
It’s not going to be easy, he said but he and the lt. governor will make the next fiscal year’s personnel budget “reflect all the sacrifices” the government employees had to make.
For his part, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang said he was deeply touched to see government employees on Sunday.
“You and I have been through good times and bad times together for many years. And to see many of you today is a testament that we are a community,” he said, adding that he and the governor “truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for working tirelessly every day to serve our community.”
He said many public servants work five days a week or more, dedicating most of the days to their tasks, putting in around 2,080 hours a year, leaving them with very little time to spend with their families.
In his remarks, Civil Service Commission Chairman Ray Muna said this year’s Labor Day celebration was extra special to him because “it is a full circle moment for me.” He said he came from a family whose members have committed their lives to serving the community. His father retired as a mechanic of DPS while his mother retired as an accountant of the Nutrition Assistance Program.
He said whenever he sees his father and mother, “I see all of you. I see hard work. I see sacrifice and I see opportunity aligned with the vision of an educated workforce. … Today, is the celebration of your dedication to serving our community. In doing so, you have demonstrated resilience, exemplary work ethic and commitment to improving government services throughout the Commonwealth.”
