DILG-AKLAN's ENGR. ELI : Diamond in Government Service

(by ANIANO  RAY F. FRANCO of  DILG Region VI)

“Not gold but only men can make 

A people great and strong; 

Men who for truth and honor's sake 

Stand fast and suffer long. 

Brave men who work while others sleep, 

Who dare while others fly... 

They build a nation's pillars deep 

And lift them to the sky.” 

                                                               -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerging from a family of hardworking fisherfolks, seafarers, and builders, this lingkod bayan knows the value of commitment and diligence. Engr. Eleazar Balatucan, or Engr. Eli, to his peers in DILG Aklan, is one of the two (2) engineers assigned at the Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) of DILG Aklan Provincial Office since 2018.

Hailing from Estancia, Iloilo Province, Engr. Eli stays in Kalibo and goes back to his hometown as often as he can.  When the lockdown was declared in March, Engr. Eli was stranded in Aklan and could not go home to his family in Estancia, Iloilo.  Since DILG’s project monitoring was suspended due to COVID-19, Engr. Eli volunteered to join the DILG OpCen which monitors the status of the LGUs in the province as far as implementation of preventive measures is concerned. Subsequently, when the Provincial Government of Aklan established its Emergency Operation Center (EOC) at the Capitol Compound, DILG was part of the manpower and Engr. Eli made himself available for the project.  He was assigned in the said EOC on a daily basis seven (7) days a week. He volunteered to be in the EOC  notwithstanding the grueling tasks and risks involved primarily because his boarding house happens to be just across the location of the EOC. Thus, for close to three (3) months, Engr. Eli was the face of the DILG in the EOC. While everyone was working-from-home, Engr. Eli was manning the EOC.

While in the EOC, he juggled facilitating linkages with stakeholders such as NGAs, LGUs and private sectors. Because of this, real time reporting thru the use of quad media effectively provided the Agency accurate and reliable data. As a volunteer, Engr. Eli took his role seriously even spending long hours  until midnight, coordinating incoming flights to the EOC. Notwithstanding the risks and the loneliness of being away from home, Engr. Eli remains steadfast in his commitment to work efficiently.

In an article entitled, “Better Virus Outcomes in Three Provinces,” published by the Manila Standard on July 06, 2020, Aklan is recognized as one of only three provinces in the country that fares better in containing the COVID-19. This is now the fruit of the exemplary collaboration of agencies in Aklan, where Engr. Eli’s selfless dedication has made an impact.

In sum, Engr. Eli is a treasure - a diamond in government service who perfectly exemplifies the values of a Matino, Mahusay and Maasahang DILG Personnel.

Engr. Balatucan during the Emergency Operations Center Meeting 

held at Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. 

(Engr. ELEAZAR BALATUCAN is an Engineer III for DILG-Aklan)