ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY OF PRC LUCENA
It was in July 1997 when the Honorable Chairman Hermogenes P. Pobre was invited by various Rotary Clubs of Lucena to be the guest speaker during their joint meeting. The proposal to create the PRC Office in Lucena to serve the Southern Tagalog professionals was presented to him.
That same year, the able Honorable Marcial C. Punzalan Jr., then representative of the 2nd district of Quezon proposed this to the lower house for legislation. It got the approval of Congress. However, the Department of Budget and Management nixed the creation for such office due to funding constraints.
Chairman Pobre tried to move the reconsideration of this proposal. Then Senate President Franklin M. Drilon allocated an amount from the Commission’s funds to be utilized for PRC Lucena’s creation. Thus, the approval to open the Southern Tagalog Regional Office in Lucena City.
The ball started rolling, so to speak. Immediately, the Personnel Section published the proposed plantilla. Work began, screening of applicants took place. After thorough evaluation by the Selection Board, the names of the persons to compose the PRC Lucena were made known. The group was a fusion of the experienced and the neophytes. Those who were new were sent to the Central Office for training while the newly transferred staff from the Central Office went to Lucena to start the operations. It was on September 18, 2000 – two days before the deadline of registration for teachers in compliance with R.A. 7836 when PRC Lucena opened to the public in its first Office at the ground floor of Adad Building, strategically located at the corner of M.L. Tagarao and Allarey Streets, Lucena City, with an area of about 460 square meters.
The following were the 14 pioneer employees of PRC Lucena: Rosemarie E. Muñoz - Director I Atty. Portia Martinez-Panergo - Attorney III Ma. Rhoda G. Gliane - Senior Professional Regulation Officer Reynaldo V. Cristobal - Administrative Officer III Divinia C. Ramos - Professional Regulations Officer III Leo G. Totanes - Professional Regulations Officer II Gerald T. Gulifardo - Professional Regulations Officer I Aihssa B. Dauz - Cashier Anna Catherine Gloria T. Maling - Professional Regulation Assistant Benigna E. Mendoza - Secretary Owen R. Adao - Computer Operator Lea N. Francia - Computer Operator Reynaldo M. Llorin - Driver Noriel V. Mercado - Utility
On October 20, 2000, a month after its initial transaction, PRC Lucena held its inauguration and blessing. PRC dignitaries and guests from the Central Office, academe and professional organizations came.
It was until June of 2004 when the pioneer personnel remained intact.
The early retirement from service of Director Muñoz and the resignation of Atty. Panergo who opted to go into private practice in 2004, effected the change of guards in the regional office. Ms. Ma. Rhoda G. Gliane was designated as the Officer-In-Charge.
In March 2005, Dir. Jocelyn Patrice L. Deco of PRC Zamboanga was transferred to PRC Lucena. It was a short stint however, when, after few months of directorship in Lucena, she took a leave to seek medical treatment. She was eventually transferred to PRC Central Office.
With the instance, the charge to lead the regional office was back to Ms. Gliane. Her stint then has become more challenging when the pioneer employees have started to leave to delve into another endeavor.
Ms. Ramos has gone abroad to practice her profession as a nurse. Mr. Adao got a better opportunity at the Philippine Coast Guard, and Mr. Gulifardo sought a greener pasture overseas as an accountant. He is a CPA. On the other hand, Ms. Maling left PRC to migrate in Canada together with her family. Ms. Dauz-Tan has opted to manage the family business due to her husband’s early departure. The Office was left with only ten (10) personnel.
In her years as the OIC of PRC Lucena, despite the lack of people to man the regional office, Ms. Gliane ably led the regional office to its goal. People have come and gone, the leadership of the Commission has changed many times over, yet PRC Lucena strived to its best to adhere with the Commission’s goals and objectives.
In February 2006, due to the implementation by the National Government of austerity measures, PRC Lucena Office was transferred to a smaller office with an area of 250 square meters, at the second floor of Suarez Building, corner Enverga and Osmeña Streets, Lucena City. However, three years after the transfer, the office space has become congested due to the increasing number of client-public which compelled the management to scout for a bigger space that is more convenient to the transacting public especially on deadlines for the application for examination and registration of passers flocking at a great number.
Eventually on December 29, 2009, PRC Lucena has found its 3rd home, at the present 750 square meter Office situated at 2/F Lucena Grand Central Terminal, Ilayang Dupay, Lucena City, where other Government Offices like Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), Bureau of the Treasury (BoT), Land Transportation Office (LTO) are being held. The Social Security System (SSS) has just also transferred in the place as well as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Quezon Field Office. Recently, another government office was added; the Local Health Insurance Office - Lucena City, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Regional Office IV, and also the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Lucena Field Office.
PRC Lucena was once headed by Dir. Amelia T. Empaynado, of the Licensure Office in the Central Office. She swapped with Ms. Gliane effective February 7, 2012 as per Commission’s order to further improve organizational effectiveness and service to PRC stakeholders.
With her time and tested strong leadership, she right away strengthened the organizational effectiveness by requesting the Commission to hire more personnel to man the regional office, which was supported and eventually approved by the Commission.
Today, there are more personnel visible to the eyes of the clients to serve them. There are enough people to attend to their needs and concerns without noon break. Services are delivered better and faster. Waiting area was made more convenient too for the transacting public.
The current staffing pattern of PRC Lucena may not be enough yet to satisfy the needs of its clients, but certainly they are made stronger with its current composition and its 14-man contingent will continue to exert efforts to bring to the clientele the best service they deserve.
At present, PRC Lucena is headed by Mr. Reynaldo V. Cristobal. He assumed his office as Officer-In-Charge as per Commissions Office Order. He replaced Dir Empaynado who is now serving Filipino people in Doha, Qatar as Welfare Officer.
PRESENT PRC LUCENA STAFF: Permanent Personnel: REYNALDO V. CRISTOBAL - Supervising PRO/ Officer-In-Charge BENIGNA E. MENDOZA - Senior PRO/Disbursing Officer ARNEL R. GAGALAC - Professional Regulations Officer I RAUL F. MARQUEZ - Administrative Officer I/Cashier LEA N. FRANCIA - Administrative Assistant/Application REYNALDO M. LLORIN - Administrative Aide/Motor Pool Service Contractors: Assignment Mary Sherlette B. Abeja - Records Unit/Application Raymond Albines - ID Printing/ICT Kristine Joy N. Andaya - Application/Records Janet P. Balingasa - ID Printing Joanne I. Barlan - Secretary to the RD April V. Cataquiz - Teacher's Unit Chester Albert C. Cruz - Application Ringo D. Daguison - Application Ma. Monica Roma A. Edaño - Application/CPD/Maritime Erwin M. Gabia - Maintenance Ma. Aimee A. Otieco - Unit A Marecriz C. Querubin - Teacher's Unit Janssen M. Quinto - Application/RCU Divinia C. Ramos - Teacher's Unit/State Board/CPD Raymond Joseph C. Reyes - Teacher's Unit Jose Lorenzo O. Tierra - Unit B & C/Records Christopher M. Torres - Unit B & C