APO Awards

About the APO Awards

The APO launched the productivity awards scheme in 1978 to give recognition to individuals who made outstanding contributions to the promotion and improvement of productivity in the Asia-Pacific region. It was originally conferred every three years until revised and expanded in 1985.

In commemoration of the silver (25th) anniversary of the organization, in 1986, the APO Special National Award was presented at the International Productivity Conference in Kuala Lumpur. Thereafter, the awards were reclassified, and two categories introduced: Regional and National Awards. The frequency of conferment also changed, from every three years to five.

In 2021, at the 60th anniversary of the APO, the awards were refined further to enhance their standing and expand recognition within and outside APO members. A new category, Meritorious and Distinguished, was added. The frequency of conferment was also revised. The Regional Awards are henceforth scheduled every three years, together with the new Meritorious and Distinguished, while the National ones are hereafter conferred annually.

The Regional and Meritorious and Distinguished Awards are administered by the APO Secretariat, supporting the Award selection committee comprising APO Chair, Vice Chairs, Secretary-General, and two coopted members. To give productivity center stage in APO members, the APO National Awards are administered directly by respective National Productivity Organizations.

Award Categories

APO Regional Award

The APO confers the Regional Award on individuals with outstanding contributions, achievements, and impact in the Asia-Pacific region in the following categories:

Policy, strategic thinking, leadership, and management: Excellence in policy formulation and strategic thinking, or leadership and management, enabling new, innovative ideas for productivity improvement to flourish, leading to enhanced, sustainable productivity movements, institutional building, and institutional cooperation for improving productivity in the region.
Methodology, tools, and techniques: Development of new, innovative methodology, tools, and techniques in special fields of activity for increasing productivity in the region through onsite activities or through research, publications, and efforts to impart skills, knowledge, and innovative ideas.

APO National Award

Two awardees from each APO member may receive the APO National Award. The criterion of eligibility is outstanding contributions, with significant impact or achievements in their countries in the following categories:

Policy, strategic thinking, leadership, and management: Excellence in strategic thinking and policy execution, or leadership and management in spearheading and promoting productivity improvement initiatives leading to enhanced, sustainable national productivity movements, inspiring success stories on applications of productivity, developing productivity influencers and role models, and spreading the importance of productivity through broad-based partnerships, networking, and cooperation in the country.
Methodology, tools, and techniques: Development of new methodology, tools, and techniques for increasing productivity in the industry, service, agriculture, and public sectors of a member country through onsite activities or through research, publications, and efforts to impart skills, knowledge, and ideas.

APO Meritorious and Distinguished Award

This award is conferred on individuals who through their work, inspiring ideas, and/or influence have made exemplary contributions enabling focused priority attention on productivity improvement leading to the centrality of productivity in national and/or regional socioeconomic development endeavors. The awards are open to any nationality in the following categories:

Policy, strategic thinking, leadership, and management: Exemplary contributions enabling focused priority attention on productivity improvement leading to the centrality of productivity in national and/or regional socioeconomic development endeavors.
Methodology, tools, and techniques: Development of new, innovative methodology, tools, and techniques in special fields of activity for increasing productivity in the region through onsite activities or through research, publications, and efforts to impart skills, knowledge, and ideas.

2021 AWARDEES FROM THE PHILIPPINES

DR. FORTUNATO T. DE LA PEÑA

Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology

2021 Meritorious and Distinguished Awardee

As Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary from 2016 to 2022, he took the leadership role for the development and use of Science and Technology not only in the country but also for the region. He served as chair of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation from 2018 to 2019; as Vice-chair for Asia for the UN Commission S & T for Development from 2010 to 2011 and Chair of the 15th UN Commission S & T for Development in 2012.

He initiated the development of the National Science and Technology Plan, National R&D Priorities Plan, and e-Government Program, as well as spearheaded the establishment of the Philippine National Innovation Strategy (Filipinnovation), which strengthened collaboration among members of the network of innovators; the Philippine e-Library Project; and DOST-PEZA Open Technology Business Incubator.

He Facilitated and implemented the program of work for 2018 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) member States; which focused on technology transfer and commercialization, effective implementation of 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region, and promotion of technology commercialization through public-private partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Dr. De la Peña strongly advocated for the use of appropriate/competitive technology to increase productivity and improve quality of enterprises particularly SMEs. This was demonstrated by initializing the development of training modules in Factory Automation, Instrumentation and Process Control and Quality Management at the UP ISSI which he headed for almost ten (10) years

He was able to share his knowledge and expertise through his contributions to numerous papers, books and publications.

Because of his achievements and contributions to advancing productivity movement, the Asian Productivity Organization and the Development Academy of the Philippines bestow the APO Meritorious and Distinguished award to Dr. Fortunato T. De La Peña.

MS. PACITA "CHIT" U. JUAN

President, GREAT Women; President and Co-founder, ECHO store; President and Co-chair, Philippine Coffee Board; Board Member, Women’s Business Council Philippines; Regional Head, International Women’s Coffee Alliance Southeast Asia Philippines

2021 National Awardee

Ms. Juan, as an advocate for the environment and sustainable lifestyle, co-founded the ECHO Store, as sustainable lifestyle retailer, and GREAT Women, which pioneered social enterprises that support market access for small artisans and community products.

Through her involvement in various institutions, such as the Philippine Coffee Board, of which she is president and co-chair; founding trustee of the Peace and Equity Holding Incorporated; Chair of the Technical and Skills Development Authority Women’s Center Advisory Council; her past leadership roles with the Management Association of the Philippines, League of Corporate Foundations, ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network, Women’s Business Council of the Philippines, among many others, she provided leadership that led to the improvement in the lives of countless Filipinos, especially women.

As a mentor to other entrepreneurs, she advocated for good, green and gender, which has inspired her mentees to pay it forward by training other deserving entrepreneurs and community leaders.

She serves in the Steering Committee of the Farm Forest Facility of the Food and Agriculture Organization, and is the Regional Councillor for Southeast Asia for the Slow Food (www.slowfood.com) movement

She has spoken at many fora, locally and internationally, such as at the Global Summit of Women, APEC meetings, and many other conferences, where she discussed various topics including sustainability, women empowerment and coffee. As a prolific writer, she has also shared her knowledge and expertise through several books, as well as through her regular columns for various online and print publications.

For playing a very active role in advancing the productivity movement in the country, the Asian Productivity Organization and the Development Academy of the Philippines bestow the APO National Award to Ms. Pacita U. Juan.

Past APO Awardees from the Philippines

2011 Regional Awardee

- H.E. Fidel V. Ramos, Former President, Republic of the Philippines

2011 National Awardee

- Mr. Feliciano L. Torres, President and CEO, Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing, Inc.; Former President, Philippine Quality and Productivity Movement; Former Chairman, Philippine Automotive Federation; Chairman Emeritus, Motor Vehicle Parts and Manufacturers Association of the Philippines; Former Trustee for the Automotive Sector, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.;

2005 National Awardee

- Engr. Felimon T. Berba, Jr., President, Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology; Founder, Philippine Quality and Productivity Movement; President Emeritus, Philippine Quality Award Foundation, Inc.

1991 National Awardee

- Dr. Ceferino L. Follosco, Academician

Contact Us

For more information about the APO Awards program, criteria and requirements, you may send an email at apodapsec@dap.edu.ph or visit our social media accounts:

Facebook Page: APO Grantees Forum Philippines
Twitter (X) account: twitter.com/apogranteesphil
Wordpress: apogranteesforum.wordpress.com

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