SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Treatment and Rehabilitation Center-La Union (TRC-LU) hosted the Gawad sa Serbisyo at Epektibong Rekognisyon sa Ahensya (GASERA) Awards and Banquet 2025 on Jan. 29, honoring individuals, organizations, and external partners for their contributions to the center and the broader community.
The GASERA Awards recognized recipients across core domains such as revenue, resilience, organizational culture, research, training, technology, and collaborative healthcare.
Notable achievements recognized during the event include TRC-LU’s attainment of the Performance Governance System (PGS)-Silver Trailblazer Award on the Initiation Stage last November 2024, the first of four stages, which also includes the stages of Compliance, Proficiency, and Institutionalization.
The PGS, developed by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), is a comprehensive framework designed to enhance governance and performance in public institutions.
The facility also received an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certification last year, signifying its adherence to global quality management principles while ensuring that its rehabilitation services are delivered with utmost efficiency and effectiveness.
An Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Gold Award was also conferred to the facility last year for its provision of streamlined and transparent services, enhancing client experience and trust.
GASERA awardees
The GASERA Awards honored outstanding individuals and groups across various categories:
GASERA Culture of Organization Award
- Individual: Ms. Susielyn Almazan
- Group: Document Control Committee
- External Stakeholder: Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center-Quality and Strategy Management Office (ITRMC-QSMO)
GASERA Training Award
- Individual: Ms. Marjorie Amkinit
- External Stakeholder: Department of Health-Ilocos Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 1) Non-Communicable Disease Cluster, Dr. Clyde Gubatan
GASERA Resilience Award
- Individual: Engr. John Dominic Tomelden
- Group: TRC-LU Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H)
- External Stakeholder: ITRMC DRRM-H
GASERA Revenue Award
- Individual: Dr. Rachelle Batalla
- Group: ABC-Finance
- External Stakeholder: Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
GASERA Technology Award
- Individual: Atty. Karlo Concubierta
- Group: TRC-LU-Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
- External Stakeholder: Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
GASERA Research Award
- Individual: Ms. Hannah Lyn Bautista
- Group: Voluntary Online Drug Dependency Portal Committee
- External Stakeholder: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Regional Office 1 and the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-Mid La Union Campus (DMMMSU-MLUC)
GASERA Collaborative Healthcare Award
- Individual: Ms. Ma. Victoria Tolentino
- Group: Medical Detox Team
- External Stakeholder: Department of Education-Alternative Learning System (DepEd-ALS)
GASERA Appreciation and Special Awards
The event also recognized key partners through the GASERA Appreciation Awards:
- Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Regional Office 1
- Commission on Audit (COA)-Regional Office 1
- Drug and Treatment Rehabilitation Center-Dagupan
Additionally, special awards were given to:
- GASERA Financial Support Award: DOH-CHD 1
- GASERA Institutional and Professional Support Award: ITRMC
- GASERA Linkage Support Award: La Union Provincial Health Office (PHO)
TRC-LU Chief of Hospital III, Dr. Marvin Munar, said that the recognitions highlight the role of dedication and collaboration in achieving meaningful rehabilitation outcomes.
“Each awardee embodies the spirit of our mission, demonstrating that through collaboration and dedication, we can create positive change and offer hope to those we serve,” Munar said.
Dangerous Drugs Board Assistant Secretary Ma. Belen Matibag and Civil Service Commission-Region 1 Director Hedy Jose Lardizabal, guest speakers of the awarding, meanwhile commended the awardees for their support of TRC-LU’s mission to provide quality rehabilitation and care.
Recipients, meanwhile, expressed their collective gratitude for the recognition, stating that the award serves as both an affirmation of their hard work and a motivation to further contribute to the facility’s mission.
Stan Costales, an employee of TRC-LU, highlighted the broader impact of the GASERA Awards, emphasizing its role in guiding the facility’s future efforts.
“The awarding is like a beacon—it lights our path as we move forward to achieve our goals for the year and beyond. It inspires us to work together, innovate, and continuously improve our services for the community,” Costales said.
The establishment and operation of Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers like TRC-LU are grounded in Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”
The legislation mandates the state’s policy to provide effective mechanisms for reintegrating individuals affected by drug abuse into society through sustainable treatment and rehabilitation programs.
The GASERA Awards highlight the power of collective effort in achieving common goals and fostering positive change within the community.
The activity not only celebrated past achievements but also reinforced TRC-LU’s commitment to its mission, inspiring continued excellence in the field of drug rehabilitation and community care. (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
