The 2024 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos Award is the most prestigious career-service honor in the Philippines, highlighting the remarkable contributions of dedicated public servants. This esteemed recognition honors individuals from the academe, the military, and the police who have made significant impacts in their communities and across the nation. Each awardee embodies excellence, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to service that inspires others. Their stories of perseverance and dedication reflect the spirit of public service, driving progress and positive change throughout the Philippines, and among Filipinos.
One of the awardees this year is Police Staff Sergeant Llena Sol-Josefa M. Jovita, currently serving as the monitoring and evaluation police non-commissioned officer at the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office in Misamis Oriental.
PSSg Jovita has built her career on the foundation of community connection. Turning street-level encounters into opportunities to build rapport, she has become a beacon of trust in a field where it is crucial. “Gatas Mo, Kinabuhi Ko” is one of her many initiatives during her eleven-year career. Launched in 2018 and later adopted by the Modern Nanays of Mindanao, the program had been dedicated to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding. It had organized breastmilk donation drives and supported mothers in need, working on various campaigns to foster a breastfeeding-friendly environment. Part of its advocacy had included promoting breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, with Cagayan de Oro City as a potential model, and ensuring preparedness during disasters through optimal infant and young child feeding during emergencies.
She had visited health centers to empower mothers with milk expression techniques, collaborating with barangay nutrition scholars to create a milk collection system for a local milk bank. Her commitment had led to her becoming a member of the Cagayan de Oro City Health Department’s Maternal Nutrition, Infant, and Young Child Feeding Task Force.
Since the program’s inception, 302 women have donated breast milk, benefiting 496 infants across 19 barangays. Her vision extends beyond the local level as she advocates for the program’s replication in other areas. Her work had earned recognition at the Police Service Anniversary, where “Gatas Mo, Kinabuhi Ko” received the “Best Junior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Administration” award.
This recognition had provided her with the resources to purchase ice boxes for each station, making the milk collection and storage process easier for lactating mothers. Jovita also had established key partnerships through memorandums of agreement with the Modern Nanays and the City Health Office, ensuring the program’s sustainability while improving the image of the police within the community.
In addition to her pioneering efforts in promoting breastfeeding, PSSg Jovita has taken proactive steps to address other critical challenges in her area of responsibility. One such initiative is her Safe Swim Program, which focuses on preventing drowning incidents by providing vital water safety skills to both police officers and children at risk.
Through this program, Jovita has trained 20 police officers and 20 vulnerable children in effective swimming techniques, combining public safety with personal growth. For many of the children, especially those in conflict with the law, these lessons serve as more than just a life-saving skill—they offer a positive, therapeutic experience that fosters self-discipline and resilience. PSSg Jovita’s approach not only strengthens community safety but also offers hope and guidance to those who need it most.
In 2017, PSSg Jovita had launched the “Together We Can” program, which equips youth with the knowledge and skills to resist the pressures of substance abuse and bullying. The program had reached 600 junior and senior high school students in Cagayan de Oro City, empowering them to make informed decisions and build resilience.
PSSg Jovita’s commitment to community service goes beyond her core initiatives. During the peak of the CoVID-19 pandemic, she had recognized the difficulties faced by senior citizens, particularly in accessing basic services like haircuts. In response, she partnered with local Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams to organize free haircut services, providing not only a practical solution but also highlighting the police force’s dedication to community welfare during a critical time.
Under her leadership, Police Station 9 had earned recognition as a child-friendly station, ranking second in the region for its ability to care for children with special needs. By working closely with teachers and parents, PSSg Jovita had helped create a supportive and inclusive environment where these kind of children feel safe, protected, and valued.
Since joining the PNP in 2012, PSSg Jovita had consistently excelled, earning numerous accolades, including the Medalyang Papuri, Medalyang Kagalingan, and Medalyang Paglilingkod Laban sa Kriminalidad from Police Regional Office 10. She had also been awarded the Medalyang Kasanayan from PNP and the Medalyang Katangitanging Gawa from the Directorate for Police Personnel and Records Management, underscoring her significant contributions to law enforcement and community development.
In addition to her professional achievements, Police Staff Sergeant Llena Sol-Josefa M. Jovita is a dedicated mother. Her academic background in Special Education and Early Childhood from Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan had given her a deep understanding of the needs of vulnerable populations, the expertise crucial to her success as a community-focused police officer.
