MANILA — Incumbent Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez is continuing to prove his exceptional management and leadership skills after he was recently named by the academe, through the Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (ALCUCOA) as Model Local Chief Executive for 2024.

The award was a testament to Gov. Hernandez commitment and dedication to public service which he undertakes through his “Serbisyong Tama” initiatives.

It was also the latest recognition that the province has received under his leadership, that also saw remarkable progress in almost all aspects of governance including in the field of education.

ALCUCOA handed the award to Gov. Hernandez for his unyielding support to the education sector especially at the tertiary level, resulting in Laguna University (LU) becoming the first local university in Southern Luzon to attain Level 3 accreditation for three of its academic programs.

It was also the first local university in the Philippines with the greatest number of Level 3 accredited programs as announced by the ALCUCOA.

The programs granted Level 3 accreditation include: Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED); Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English (BSED-English); Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in Mathematics (BSED-Math)

Dr. Raymundo P. Arcega, CESE, President and Executive Director of ALCUCOA, made the announcement during the recent Presentation and Confirmation of Accreditation Results.

This accreditation recognizes the program’s high-quality curriculum, competent faculty, and exemplary institutional practices, distinguishing Laguna University as a leader in teacher education.

In addition, the following programs were also recognized for meeting the ALCUCOA Standards: Level II: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship.

For Level I: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.

To recall, the province of Laguna was also previously recognized as the Top 2 Most Competitive Province in the country by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during a ceremony held at the Manila Hotel on August 23, 2024.

Other Awards

In handing the award, the DTI used performance criteria in five key areas that include: economic dynamism; government efficiency; infrastructure; resiliency; and innovation.

The DTI explained that the rankings are determined through a weighted average of the scores of cities and municipalities within the province, considering factors such as population and income.

The recognition highlights Laguna’s progress in various sectors, including economic development and governance efficiency.

Showing consistency and efficiency, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 10, 2024, handed Laguna yet another prestigious recognition at the 2024 Presidential Awards Ceremony for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

This, after the province was named the Outstanding Development Partner for Southern Luzon in the category of Improving Access to Markets.

Previously, Laguna was also recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the department’s 73rd anniversary celebration, as the Most Active Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and awarded the Good Practice Award for 2023.

The DSWD highlighted the province’s effective implementation of programs like the Serbisyong Tama Health Card, also known as the Blue Card Program, which has made a significant impact in improving access to healthcare for its residents.

The DSWD noted that the province through its Serbisyong Tama Health Card Program has been aggressive in reaching out and serving the undeserved sectors especially on the aspect of providing public quality health care.

Laguna’s commitment to good governance was also acknowledged after the DILG awarded the province with the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

The SGLG symbolizes the province’s successful journey toward effective local governance, reflecting a strong dedication to transparency, accountability, and public service.

These were only among the many awards bestowed to the province under the leadership of Gov. Hernandez that also include among others High Functional Anti-Drug Abuse Council, High Functional Local Committees on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC), and Ideal Functional Local Council for the Protection of Children, also handed down by the DILG.

LU for its part has once again demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence and institutional growth by bagging four prestigious awards at the 17th ALCUCOA National Conference, held at the Diamond Hotel Manila.

LU received the Academic Excellence Award which reflects the outstanding performance of its graduates, as evidenced by the board examination results and for producing board topnotchers.

ia/mnm