Paglaum in the Time of Pandemic

by Christopher F. Calugay and Luzviminda dR. Arbutante

The Covid-19 pandemic totally redefined the environment and radically disrupted life in all societies in 2020 and maybe even this decade.  Physical lockdowns and economic slowdowns, whole-scale migrations from face-to-face to digital interactions in all forms of transactions, and the omnipresent threat of the virus inevitably accelerated the pace of change and adaptation, increased levels of stress, and resulted in an “invisible pandemic” of anxiety, depression and other negative social and emotional consequences.

Now more than ever, career executives are called to action as champions and advocates in transforming workspaces into centers of mental, emotional and social wellness and growing adversity-resilient and mentally healthy human capital, in the service of the nation.  Public managers are challenged with new roles as “first responders” to distressed colleagues, clients and staff, while grappling with innovative solutions and strategies to achieve and ensure individual and agency performance effectiveness in offering meaningful and timely service to increasingly demanding publics.

In response to these emerging and evolving challenges, the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) will hold the Project Paglaum Capacity-Building Course on Providing Psychological First Aid (PFA) in Post-Disaster Situations from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm from 14 - 16 December 2020. 

Now  on its 27^th session, the Project Paglaum course was developed to capacitate CES executives with key competencies and skills and to instill in them the right perspectives and mind-set in providing meaningful, effective and sustainable psychosocial support interventions to victims and survivors of calamities, disasters and other negative life-altering events.   

Participation in the course, including instructional materials, is FREE. Register now by accomplishing the form thru this link, cesboard.gov.ph/ly/paglaum27 on or before 7 December 2020 (Monday).

We call on all CES executives as champions and advocates of resilience, positive change and total life wellness.  Join us in creating safe, healthy and nurturing life-spaces where everyone can thrive in full development in the new and better normal!