Two elected and appointed officials of the local government were recently adjudged as Most Outstanding Alumni by the Saint Louis University (SLU) Alumni Association.
The search for outstanding alumni aims to recognize and reinforce alumni contributions to their respective fields, related programs, affiliations and projects in both local and international communities.
SLU believes in the invaluable role of alumni in promoting a better world. For one, with proven competencies and excellent work ethics, Louisan alumni become effective catalyst of social development.
The two city officials who were recognized as SLU Outstanding alumni were Councilor Elmer O. Datuin for Social Responsibility and City Administrator Bonifacio dela Pena for Competence.
Councilor Datuin obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology, Masters in Biology and Bachelor of Laws in SLU. He went on to pursue further studies at the Lyceum Northwestern University with a degree of Masters in Public Administration and the University of Makati with a Doctorate of Philosophy major in Executive Leadership.
Prior to starting his political career in 1997, he was the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Baguio City chapter and was awarded as the Most Outstanding IBP Chapter president of the Philippines. Currently, he is an elected city councilor of the city holding the chairmanship of the Committee on Social Services, Women, and Urban Poor. He is also the national chairman of the Advocacy Committee of the Philippine Councilors League where he leads in developing the continuing local legislative education program which has become the centerpiece program of all councilors nationwide in their pursuit for quality legislation. He has been invited to multiple international forums as a resource speaker in his advocacy to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals crafted by the United Nations.
On the other hand, the city administrator is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the United States under a scholarship grant by the United States Agency for International Development in collaboration with SLU where he completed the degree of master of Science in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Geosciences and Soils Engineering. He was affiliated with SLU for 30 years and eventually was the Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture. He is the owner and chief executive officer of BIP Steadfast Ground, Inc., an accredited firm by the Baguio City Engineering Office and the Bureau of Research and Standards with the reputation of providing excellent services in geotechnical engineering materials testing design and supervision and general construction.
He was a member of the Urban Design and Arts Advisory Committee of the city and he chaired the technical committee for the procurement of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Further, he is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a life member of the Road Engineering Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) where he was elected as one of the national board of directors and as Baguio City chapter president for three terms. He was also chosen as the Director and subsequently the Vice President of the Philippine Association for Technological Education for Luzon. He was awarded as one of the Outstanding Citizens of Baguio City in 2019. He joined the local government as the City Administrator who functions as the alter ego of the City mayor. By Dexter A. See