ALABEL, Sarangani (September 21, 2022) - Governor Rogelio "Ruel" D. Pacquiao lauded retiree Engr. Yolando Bandayanon, chief of the motorpool division of the Provincial Engineer's Office (PEO), for his 28 years of public service in the provincial government. 

"Even in the short period of time na nagkauban ta for two months, when I first requested for the inventory of our equipment, right away nahatag nimo. Isa ka instruction lang, naa dayon and I thank you for that,” Governor Pacquiao told Engr. Bandayanon. 

Governor Pacquiao, along with Provincial Administrator Atty. Ryan Ramos, and Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Jenric Garcia, graced the retirement program and 65th birthday celebration of Engr. Bandayanon on September 20 at the PEO Motorpool Division office. 

The governor commended Engr. Bandayanon for his significant contributions in the provincial government for the past 28 years, and thanked him for his at least two months of service during the incumbent governor’s administration. 

According to Engr. Salen Valdevieso, supervising administrative officer of the PEO, one of the many legacies of Engr. Bandayanon in the provincial government was being among the key persons behind the conversion of the Provincial Jail and the Sarangani Police Station from agricultural land to institutional land.

He also had a hand in the realization of the Capitol Residences where a lot of the Capitol employees are residing, and it was during his time as division chief when the motorpool building was established.

Engr. Bandayanon was first employed in the provincial government of Sarangani in 1994 when he first became a Tax Mapping Aide at the Provincial Assessor’s Office and worked in the office for six years. 

Fast forward to the year 2000, Engr. Bandayanon became Engineer III or Assistant Division Chief of Motorpool for 19 years and eventually became Engineer IV or Division Chief in 2019-2022.

As a token of appreciation to the retiree, the provincial government thru the Provincial Administrator’s Office and Human Resource Management and Development Office, headed by Josephine Alog, gave a plaque and a 14-karat retirement gold ring to Engr. Bandayanon.

Also, the Sarangani Provincial Employees Union (SPEU) President Wilson Lapiz handed over a cheque worth P125,600 as a “pabaon” of the co-employees and members of the union to the retiree, and another cheque worth P37,330.11 which is 50% of his monthly dues as a union member.

“Being a public servant is not a perfect career, but nevertheless friends, please look forward to the daily challenges as well as the views that come with it,” Engr. Bandayanon told his colleagues in the government. 

He also told the governor of his desire to render his “full service” to his leadership, but the “mandatory act of Civil Service for my retirement is also necessary.”

The Republic Act 8291 or the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997 sets the age of optional retirement age at 60 years old and mandatory retirement at 65 years old for government workers. (Jori Mae R. Samillano/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

?Martin Fernando Bernad Jr.