LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- – National Capital Region Police Office Spokesperson Police Chief Inspector Kimberly Molitas and Tublay Local Disaster Risk Reduction Officer Abler Lilangeni are this year’s recipients of the Benguet Leadership Awards during the 2017 Adivay Festival and 117th Founding Anniversary of Benguet.
Molitas is a daughter of incumbent Kibungan Mayor Cesar Molitas whose family initiated a scholarship program for the youth in their hometown in the early 1990s. As her advocacy and her passion, she later pursued the program expanding it around the country. She organizes fund raising activities for livelihood assistance programs and charity works providing education and health services.
She excelled in her field of expertise not only locally but internationally. Among her awards and achievements are: youngest of the Ten Outstanding Policewomen of the Philippines at age 25; the first ever policewoman to have secured the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in the United States; and Ambassador for Peace and Goodwill for the United Nations. She was also cited as one of the 13 emerging leaders in Asia.
For her academic distinctions, the police officer completed her Humphrey Fellowship on Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration and Law Enforcement and Leadership Development Program at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, Thailand; Master’s degree in Transnational Crime Prevention at the University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia; had specialized training in Advanced Surveillance and Investigations at the Australian School of Security and Investigations.
Looking back, she expressed her gratitude to all those who have nurtured her over the years saying she is a living testament to the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Molitas said her family has been doing public service since they were young and vowed to continue this. “Leaders have unique combination of fears, resolve and humility. True leaders have this resolve to be able to provide and tell their people that change can happen. We can achieve so many things if we do it together and put our hearts to it. Leadership comes with humility that our positions do not give us more privilege but responsibility towards our people.” she said
On the other hand, Lawangen, who obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science at the Benguet State University, played an active role in Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) in Tublay. With his professionalism and responsiveness, he was conferred the Dangal ng Bayan Award last December 2016 by the Civil Service Commission. He was also recognized by the Regional DRRM Council last January 22 with the DRRM Commitment Award and by the Benguet State University as a Centennial Awardee on Resiliency Management.
His work has successfully gained financial support from the United Nations World Food Programme and the AEION Japan Foundation.
Lawangen said achieving the award is not due to his determination, rather the overarching strength he drew from the different life circles around like his family, friends, professional environment and the community. This is another challenge as a light post for striving further in public service.** PIA Benguet
