Being the head of a Division with a whopping 637 workforce, working together in harmony, amidst the never-ending challenges, is no easy feat.
Crislea Delauta Celeste, a 33-year-old native of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, has led and stabilized this huge pool of staff, from all levels of operations, being hired and appointed as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS) Caraga Regional Program Coordinator since January 2016.
She started her career as a field worker assigned to a remote Island Province of Dinagat Islands, among the Pioneer field staff implementing the Convergence Strategy, back in 2011. Both her academic and work experiences molded her into providing significant technical inputs not only to her staff, but also to the Management by submitting countless policy recommendations.
With her 10-year stint in the DSWD Field Office Caraga, she has meticulously managed her team to consistently deliver excellent results for 5 consecutive years. One of the strongest evidences to this is the FO Caraga’s Perfect 5 OPC rating under Pantawid Pamilya indicators from 2016 to 2020. As the OPC is neatly crafted and aligned with the Organizational Outcomes of DSWD, this has been one of her strongest contributions to the organization.
Maximizing this competency, she has influenced her team and guided them as brainchild in producing handful innovative strategies that are uniquely based on the needs and context of Caraga region, such as but not limited to:
- Formulation of Regional Interim Guidelines addressing operational concerns of the program;
- Development of significant Database Management Systems to digitize transactions;
- Issuance of countless Regional Guidance Notes and/or Advisories;
- Creation of Technical Working Groups specially assigned to address need-based concerns;
- Crafting of Regional Service Brand – “SERVE1st” to serve as guiding compass of the team;
- Securing program support from all 5 Provincial LGUs in Caraga through approved Provincial Ordinances; and
- Gaining support from the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) through formulation of numerous Committee Resolutions in support to the program
More so, the team has garnered an ample of National and Regional awards and/or recognitions over the years during her time, both from within DSWD and from partner agencies and/or CSO partners.
The most recent and most celebrated achievement is the 2020 National PRAISE Best Operations Office Award for 4Ps Caraga – Regional Program Management Office, handled by Ms. Celeste.
Apart from handling the biggest and most funded program of DSWD for Caraga Region, Ms. Celeste is also performing various ad-hoc tasks set by the Management. Some of her many designations are as follows:
- Team Leader of SAP Bayanihan 2 Regional Coordinating Team
- Team Leader of Regional Technical Assistance and Monitoring Team (RTAMT) for Siargao Islands and Surigao Del Norte PLGU
- Team Leader of Quick Response Team
- Team Leader on Partnership and Coordination under Regional TWG on Devolution
- Regional Director’s official designated representative for Comprehensive Service Benefit Program (CSBP) Inter-Agency Regional Technical Working Group
- Team Leader of Sub-Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Dinagat Islands (2nd Shift)
As a supervisor, Ms. Celeste invariably bases her decision according to evidence and decides on the availability of facts. Her sincerity to the well-being of her staff is shown in her commitment to conduct coaching sessions and mentoring conversations, for she believes that these are essential components of servant leadership.
Her passion to continuously learn is contagious and she takes so much pride that with her encouragement, majority of her direct staff at the RPMO are now pursuing Master’s Degree. Worthy to note that all of her Administrative Assistants enrolled for post-graduate courses and 3 of them (Donna Vliess Jabardan, Juliet Dulog, and Rayhana Umpar) have already completed/graduated.
This kind of academic pursuit and milestones have been a clear influence of Ms. Celeste to her team. She fervently believes that life is a continuous process of learning.
Despite the title she earned in college where she graduated Summa cum Laude, she still sees to it that she grabs every opportunity to polish her skills. After her hard work and dedication, she became a Toastmasters International Affiliate, which harnesses her communication skills to represent the program in any activity. Recently, she was sponsored by the Field Office to attend two (2) Civil Service Online Courses. One is on Coaching and Mentoring and the other one is on Public Service Values in Times of Adversities.
Moreover, in her pursuit for professional and career advancement, Ms. Celeste was able to earn a Master’s Degree in Public Administration that she finished in 2014 in Southwestern University, Cebu City. She also earned 24 units in her Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Southern Philippines in AY 2017-2018. Moreover, she enrolled in Father Saturnino Urios University Law School for a Juris Doctor degree. A move that is of great use for both personal and professional development.
It can be proven that Ms. Celeste is an ardent learner and a dreamer with fortitude, but she does not want that for herself alone. She ensures that all academic undertakings of staff are well supported, because she is confident that academic breakthroughs of staff shall only lead to higher competencies of the program workforce. Therefore, directly contributing in ensuring quality service and nurturing a culture of excellence at work.
Just last year, Ms. Celeste gained the position of being one of the Division Chiefs of the FO Caraga. Truly, a mark of a PRAISE Best Technical Staff national nominee who rose from the ranks. ###(Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)
