contents

Contents

Message from the

Secretary

ROAD TO RETIREMENT PART 1 | V is for Versola

His Story: A Great Man Then & Now

ROAD TO RETIREMENT PART 2 | V is for Region V

His Destiny: Ending Service with a Spice
 MESSAGE FROM THE
secretary
My heartiest congratulations to Engr.
Danilo E. Versola, Regional Director of
the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) assigned at Bicol
Region on your retirement day.

More than four decades of rendering selfless public service and

epitomizing excellence in the civil engineering field, now is the time for
you to finally bow out from the Department.

Words may not suffice to commend all the invaluable contributions you
have imparted, but nonetheless, allow me on behalf of the Department
to convey my sincerest expression of gratitude for your unparalleled
leadership throughout the years.

The closing of this chapter in your life’s journey entails the opening of
new beginnings in which greater adventures surely await you with your
love ones.

May you continue to fill each day with memories, whether beautiful or
distressing, to make your life even more fulfilling.

You will always be a part of the DPWH family.

Happy retirement and good luck as you explore new horizons in the
days and years to come.

MARK A. VILLAR
Secretary
03
ROAD
TO RE
TIREM
ENT |
PART
1
is for
VERSOLA
His Story: A Great Man
Then & Now
Danilo Versola has been noted as having
high regard for efficiency and quality work.
He combines system, motivation and
tact in managing people. His work ethics
is also expressed in his receptiveness to
the call of duty even if it meant sacrificing
personal time to respond to emergencies at
work.
As a leader, one can find him at the
frontline of his workforce; pushing his pencil
on the drawing table, lifting a rock to clear
the path, and setting the direction and pace
of the office’s goal.
But, little do people know, at least for
some, that this great man of today started
so small, along with faith and determination;
and yet he was able to rise into a big picture.
With his story and legacy, he is indeed worth
calling a great man.

PART 1 | V is for Versola 04


05 V is for Versola | PART 1
anilo E. Versola
was born on
August 5, 1953 to
Demetrio and Severa
from Caba and Naguillan, La Union.
At present, he is married to
Ferlinda Amores. He is a proud father
to his sons Daryl and Derek, and to
his only daughter Danica.
Beginning his story...
His work paradigm developed
through his extensive government
experience of thirty-four years in the
Department.
He started early in his career as
a working student, hired as a laborer
at the Bureau of Public Works, City
Engineering Office in Davao City in
1975. Determined on his career path,
he worked on his Civil Engineering
Degree at the University of Mindanao
and later International Harvardian
University from 1970 to 1981. On
his final year as a student, he was
promoted to Civil Engineering Aide I
and later earned permanency in the
 government service as Assistance for International
Water Rights Investigator. Development (AUSAID) at the
Not long after he passed prestigious University of Sydney
the Licensure Exam for in Australia and a earned a
Civil Engineering in 1981 degree on Master in Urban and
he got the position Regional Planning in
of Civil Engineer. 1996. Upon his return,
His technical and an he became the chief-of-
leadership skills were intelligent staff of former Regional
honed at the Regional leader Director Ernesro Silvila.
who
Office for twenty years. understands It was during this time
In 2002, he led the his when he was promoted
job
Davao Oriental 2nd and from Engineer III to
District Engineering knows Engineer V for his
the
Office (Mati) as District organization effective work attitude
Engineer and three well and qualifications.
years later he was When he became the
reassigned to Davao Chief of the Planning
del Sur 2nd District and Design Division,
Engineering Office (Malita). he took and passed in 2001
He prepared himself for PART 1 | V is for Versola 06
higher level positions. He got
a study grant by the Australian
 the Career Executive he became an active Board
Eligibility. He later became of Director of the Philippine
the Chief of the Maintenance National Red Cross, Davao
Division. He was given a rank of Oriental Chapter; President
CESO VI in September 2007. of the Philippine Institute
He underwent leadership of Civil Engineers; Vice
trainings for executives, President for Mindanao of
environment impact assessment, the District Engineers League
project development appraisal, of the Philippines (DELP);
project management and Member of the Association of
supervision by PERT/CPM, Government Civil Engineers of
project identification and the Philippines; and Member
programming system (PIPS), of the Road Engineering
regional physical framework Association of the Philippines.
planning, development His hard work and
planning and investment determination were not
programming, site supervising put into waste for he was
of labor base/equipment promoted OIC-Assistant
supported methods (for the Regional Director on February
supervision/management in the 23, 2009 and, months after, he
construction and maintenance is served the CARAGA Region
of infrastructure projects), as its OIC-Regional Director.
among others. On 2010, he was
To expand his network, designated as OIC-Regional
Director of Regional Office XIII
(Caraga Region) serving for
almost 7 years.

07 V is for Versola | PART 1

 Finally, on March 13, 2017,
he formally turned over his Butuan
City post to a new RD identified as
Engineer Eduarte. It was Versola’s
chance to bid goodbye to his former
co-employees in Butuan City. Those
who attended Versola’s turnover
in Butuan City were identified
to be DPWH Bicol Regional
Equipment Service Engineer Gadi
Valencia, DPWH Bicol Regional
Human Resource Officer Isabelo
“Billy” Alvarez and his wife Ma.
Socorro Jacinta Alvarez, Public
Affairs Regional executive Lucy
Castaneda, and Asst. Maintenance
Division Engineer Erwin Bernal.

The discipline he got from his years

of paying attention to his superiors,
of learning from hands-on experience
and experts here and abroad, of
cultivating his profession through
continued learning, and of sharing
his passion and knowledge to others
defines the kind of leader he is today—an
intelligent leader who understands his
job and knows the organization well.
Salute to this humble PART 1 | V is for Versola 08
yet great man!
09
is for
Region V
His Destiny: Ending
Service with a Spice
RD Versola believes that there is a mountain,
or maybe a volcano of challenges to face
but he likewise holds high the value of
teamwork with each team player giving its
all with the dedication and the goal of the
whole organization in mind. He competently
lead the DPWH Bicol as Regional Director
as traced from his decades of service on
the various offices of the Department.
More than that, in his last year
of service before retirement, he never
abandoned the values he has hold on to
from his simple beginnings. He was able to
stand firm as a leader and as a father to the
Bicolanos, in times of calamities just like
that of the recent eruption of Mayon.
Even still wondering how he made it
on leading DPWH Region V, he always made
sure to lead and serve with a spice.

PART 2 | V is for Region V 10

 anilo E. Versola,
hknown for 40
years of service
in the government,
and for being an awardee of Most
Effective Employee back to 1979,
and Model Employee back to 1984,
assumed his new post in Bicol on
March 7, 2017. On March 9 of the
same year, the turnover ceremony
was held in DPWH Regional Office
5, Rawis, Legazpi City.

I want us to work
together to deliver the
best in infrastructure
service for the Bicolanos.
RD Danilo E. Versola, CESO III

PART 2 | V is for Region V 12

In the Service of
the Bicolano people... Villar expressed
confidence that the
Before nearly ending the year of project would also
2017, RD Versola began with a help decongest traffic
project of constructing a 3-in-1 road in Legazpi City as well
at Barangay Baybay, Legazpi City. The as effectively protect
1.67-kilometer alternative coastal people from the coastal
road comes with a seawall and flood hazards and lessen
control facilities, and health and fitness flooding occurrence
component such as the joggers' lane. upon its completion in
the first quarter of 2018.
The new road,
Villar further said, would
encourage fitness and
wellness activities for
local Bicol residents
and tourists as site for
sporting events like
For inspection, Secretary Mark triathlon, marathons,
A. Villar along with Undersecretary cycling and fun runs.
Dimas O. Soguilon, Assistant Secretary
Eugenio R. Pipo, DPWH-Region 5 The P330-million
Director Danilo E. Versola, DPWH- project is part of the
Region 5 Construction Division OIC Legazpi City Urban
Chief Cornelio Relativo and other Drainage Improvement
DPWH Regional Directors who were Project which is a
in Bicol Region came to visit and priority project of
check the progress of the said project DPWH considering the
and have the DPWH Unified Regional vulnerability to flooding
Directors meeting. of Legazpi City during
heavy rains, typhoons
and high tide with its
13 V is for Region V | PART 1 location near Albay
Gulf and several other
watercourses.
Days before the same year
was about to end, the Local
Government Unit of Legazpi
City, Albay has certified the
DPWH Bicol Regional Office
as 100 percent Smoke-Free
Establishment.
The certification signed
by Mayor Noel E. Rosal,
Chairperson of Smoke-Free
Legazpi City, was received
by DPWH Region 5 Chief
Administrative Officer Dr.
Flocerpida B. Azotea in a
ceremony held recently at
Kenzon Function Hall, Legazpi
City.
In his message at the
DPWH flag raising ceremony,
RD Versola expressed his
sincerest gratitude to the
DPWH workforce, particularly
the male officials and employees
for their cooperation in making
DPWH Region 5 Office a
smoke-free zone.
“For an office like DPWH
which is dominated in numbers
by male employees, the no-
smoking policy is a huge
challenge,” added Director
Versola.
PART 2 | V is for Region V 14
 The Local Government Unit
(LGU) of Legazpi City issued City
Ordinance No. 0007-2009 as part
of the initiative to enact anti-smoking
laws in accordance with Article 2,
Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution that mandates the state
to protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.
Legazpi City Ordinance No.
0007-2009 aims to regulate and
promote a healthful environment and
protect the citizens, especially the
youth, from the hazards of tobacco
and, at the same time, ensure that the
interests of others are not adversely
compromised.
To ensure strict compliance to
this policy, Mayor Rosal formed an
enforcement team called the Legazpi
City Smoke-Free Unit. The unit has
459 deputized agents who shall
apprehend persons who will violate
the ordinance within the City’s
jurisdiction.
The giving of awards and
certification to deserving private and
government establishments is part of
Legazpi City’s intensified awareness
campaign to promote a clean and
healthy environment in workplaces.
15 V is for Region V | PART 1
And, lastly, just this year of 2018, the
world became aware of the months of
the unusual activity since January 13
of what is known to be the beautiful
Mayon Volcano. Lava had spilled
from Mayon that sent up columns of
ash over farmland and towns, coating
them in grey just during a nearly two-
week eruption.
With such news for Bicolanos,
it always comes into their minds:
"When there is eruption, there are
evacuations." Indeed, it was again
realized. But with the deadly eruptions,
especially for those within the danger
zones, officials were made worried on
the very possible effect of disrupting
the lives and livelihoods of people in
its shadow.
And, in response to such
calamity, one man of the many took
action and it was no other than RD
Versola, where for his swift action
and constant efforts to help Mayon
evacuees, he was commended by the
Office of the President (OP) and was
given the Presidential Watch for his
leadership.
"The OP through Secretary
Francis Tolentino, Presidential Adviser
for Political Affairs and designated
Presidential Coordinator for Mt.
PART 2 | V is for Region V 16
 Mayon Operations, lauded and gave RD Versola the
prestigious Presidential Watch for leading the DPWH
Regional and District Offices in Bicol in building
temporary shelters, toilets, and semi-permanent
communal kitchens with washing areas for evacuation
centers,” the DPWH said in a statement.
Tolentino noted that following the marching
order of President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his visit
last January 29 in Albay, DPWH was able to build a
total of 336 toilets with bathing area in the different
public schools compound and resettlement areas
within 3 to 4 days duration despite being tasked to
build only 333 toilets for the evacuees.
“Additional task to construct 33 semi-permanent
communal kitchens with washing areas and
temporary shelters was also assigned to DPWH as
this immediate assistance in the evacuation centers,”
said the department.
Director Versola also deployed two DPWH
personnel in each of the seven evacuation centers
in the municipality of Daraga, Albay, with trucks and
service vehicles on standby for emergency response.
Secretary Tolentino said that the DPWH Region
5 team under RD Versola deserves commendation
for their “team work and diligence that led to the
immediate completion of the most needed facilities
in evacuation camps.”

17 V is for Region V | PART 1

PART 2 | V is for Region V 18
 Now,
he is ending his service
to the government, and it
is a great pleasure of doing
it so in Bicol. Even without
having the blood of a
Bicolano, still, he managed
to uplift and maintain,
without any reservations,
the DPWH Region V.

A true Filipino hero!

19 V is for Region V | PART 1

He is indeed a true Filipino.
He is a Filipino
who dedicately offers
one's whole life
and experience
only for thegreater glory
of God and
the Philippine
country.
 i r t h d a y R D !
Ha p p y B