LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The former district engineer of the two engineering districts of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the province wants to continue his career in public service as he is now setting his sights in one of the available seats in the provincial board during the upcoming May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
Engr. Alexander Carino Castaneda, who retired as the district engineer of the DPWH-Second Benguet District Engineering Office based in Natubleng, Buguias, wants to share his expertise on infrastructure to the provincial government through the crafting of legislations that will ensure the implementation of quality projects that will be beneficial to the greater majority of the people, especially those living in far flung communities.
He is married to Helen Lesino of Buguias and they are blessed with 3 children, namely, Mary Lovely, Cherly and Alexis John.
Castaneda is the eldest son of spouses Francisco Alabanza Castaneda and Caroline Agway Castaneda of Bontoc, Mountain Province. His 12 other siblings are Rev. Fr. Benedict Castaneda, Charles Castaneda, Donald Castaneda, Franklin Castaneda, Gilbert Castaneda, Herminigildo Castaneda, Imelda Castaneda, Jesus Castaneda, Ferdinand Castaneda, Nestor Castaneda, Fr. Marcial Lloyd Castaneda, Zenaida Castaneda and Vincent Castaneda.
He started his service to the DPWH in 1979 occupying the position Civil Engineer Aide I before climbing the ladder of success as Civil Engineer Aide II, Associate Civil Engineer, Civil Engineer, Senior Civil Engineer, Engineer II, Engineer III, Engineer IV, Engineer V, Assistant District Engineer, District Engineer, OIC-Assistant Regional Director, and Chief – Regional Project Monitoring Office and OIC-Undersecretary for Operations.
The former DPWH official completed his elementary and secondary education at the Saint Vincent School in Bontoc. He graduated the course Bachelor in Science in Civil Engineering at the Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF). He also acquired his Master in Public Administration at the Baguio Central University (BCU).
Castaneda was given a Letter of Commendation and Recognition from Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company dated June 28, 1985; Letter of Commendation of the Sangguniang Bayan of La Trinidad dated June 14, 1993 and Achievement Award – Philippine Infrastructure Journal.
He was able to serve as the district engineer of the first Benguet District Engineering Office, First Mountain Province District Engineering Office, Baguio City District Engineering Office, Kalinga District Engineering Office and the Second Benguet District Engineering Office.
Castaneda first served as the first district engineer of the Second Benguet District Engineering Office and retired from the same office on September 30, 2021.
He was known to be an ‘action man’ in the places where he was assigned as he made his presence felt by personally managing and supervising road clearing operations to ensure the smooth flow off vehicular traffic in and out of the different provinces during the onslaught of natural calamities that strike anytime.
By Hent
