The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has awarded Parangal sa Lingkod Bayani to the family of the late Marcial L. Pattaguan “for his selfless dedication to serve and commitment in the discharge of his duties in the name of public service.”
Pattaguan was killed by unidentified armed men on Oct.8, 2018 after conducting delineation of boundaries of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Dinapigue, Isabela. He was a forest ranger at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Palanan.

The award was issued by CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala and Commissioners Leopoldo Roberto W. Valderosa Jr. and Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada.
Region 2 CSC Director Nerissa B.Canguilan and DENR officials led by Regional Executive Director Atty. Antonio A. Abawag handed in the award to the daughter and the sister of Pattaguan on Dec. 20, 2019 at the Narek Hall, DENR Regional Office, Tuguegarao City.

The Commission also conferred Pamanang Lingkod Bayani (PLBi) award granting a one-time financial assistance and other benefits to the family of Pattaguan by virtue of CSC Resolution No. 1901386 promulgated on Nov. 12, 2019.
The PLBi program is a tribute to civilian public servants who displayed the character of a bayani in the name of public service.

Under the program, the CSC providesscholarship grant in any Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges-member institutions for the benefit of the immediate family members.
It also grants an amount worth PhP100,000as one-time financial assistanceto the family.

CSC Director Canguilan said the amount came from the Pamanang Lingkod Bayani Fund accumulated in the Fun Run conducted during the Civil Service month every September. She added that the contribution of every runner from the whole country goes to the fund which serves as financial assistance to the families left behind by government employees who died in the line of duty or while in service.

“No amount could be as valuable as the life that we lost. No amount could compensate the family for the loss of Forest Ranger Pattaguan. But this is the most that we could do to the family,” the CSC regional head said.
Shiela Marie,Pattaguan’s youngest daughter, thanked the Commission for the scholarship grant which she will use in taking up Bachelor in Medicine. “Napakalaking tulong po itong scholarship dahil hindi ko lang po pangarap ang matutupad. Pangarap po naming ni papa,” she said.

For his part, DENR regional environment chief Atty.Abawag appealed for the support and cooperation of all personnel so that the selfless sacrifice of Pattaguan will not be in vain.He expressed his resentment overforest destructors for their inhumane acts “just to satisfy their greed.”

“I wish everybody feels the necessity to protect our forests. Let us be serious and dedicated to our pledge for the conservation and protection of our country’s environment and natural resources,” Director Abawagsaid. #coriecorpuz