COTABATO CITY—A 70-year-old man was named model worker of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), besting over 40,000 other employees of the regional bureaucracy.
Kado Esmail, who was having age-related hearing problems, was awarded a certificate of appreciation in paper, as well as on tarpaulin to immortalize his “lifetime achievement,” for keeping the ARMM capitol grounds here clean and green for over 30 years.
He also received a P50,000 cash reward from contributions raised by regional officials led by ARMM Acting Gov. Mujiv Hataman.
“For his exemplary service through exceptional trait of sheer hard work, the present administration hereby recognizes his contribution in the field of public and civil service,” reads the certificate of appreciation in Filipino that Hataman and top officials of the ARMM government handed over to Esmail.
Hataman said he wanted all ARMM employees and officials to emulate the honesty and hard work that Esmail and 21 other utility person-awardees have shown in the name of public service.
Esmail was once caught in a photo sweeping part of the 20-hectare capitol ground during a heavy rain.
Myrna Jocelyn Henry, a senior employee of the ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information, took the photo and posted it on her Facebook.
The Facebook photo of Esmail by Henry spread fast among residents and officials, including Hataman.
During the awarding ceremonies, Esmail, who only speaks Maguindanaon, repeatedly said “salamat” and “sukran” (Arabic for “thanks”).
Esmail said he keeps his family’s hand-to-mouth existence by working with a “job-order” appointment which entitles him to up to P9,000 monthly wage.
He said he could not retire even at his age, lest he suffer frequent body aches and that he would have nothing to reap in terms of retirement benefits.
Normally, housing or government insurance policy contributions are not deducted from government or private workers on “job-contract” appointments, said administrative officer Jane Pelaez.
From his earnings, starting with P15 daily wage, Esmail had sent to school his now adult and married children, and is still helping bear school expenses for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He said the P50,000 cash reward was a big help to his family.
Assemblypersons, including Speaker Rasol Mitmug Jr. of the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, joined Hataman in paying tribute to the region’s 22 workers, who were also given awards recognizing their labor.
Most of the awardees have worked on their job during the past 20 or 30 years from the tenure of ARMM’s forerunner.
He appealed to workers, officials and visitors of the regional capitol to observe cleanliness and to help keep the capitol grounds clean by refraining from littering.
Hataman warned that the ARMM government would also give shame “awards” to the littering officials and employees.
Aside from Esmail, other awards recipients were Marcelina Gomez-Vasay, Domin Manayol, Jasper Villamor, Faisal Gaos, Guiamad Abubakar, Isidro Zafra, Abdulnasser Ibrahim, Peter Morales, Erlinda Flores, Solaiman Gaos, Mama Kasuyo, Tito Beloy, Narlito Flores, Nguda Ali, Sali Moldin, Simeon Ulama, Nida Salva, Wahid Atin Manguda, Email Manial, Ebrahim Abedin and Lester Najiv Ahmad. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao