When asked about one of the major hurdles in her career, Regional Director (RD) Arlene M. Divino of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Region III – Central Luzon, playfully remarked, “Being part of the PSA grants you immunity from the virus.”
A distinguished alumna of the Public Management Development Program (PMDP) Middle Managers Class (MMC) Batch 4 – Bato-Balani, RD Divino’s career in the public sector spans for almost 30 years. Since September 2022, she has served as the full-fledged RD for the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) III. Her journey with the PSA began in 1993 as an Emergency Employee, and over the years, she rose through the ranks from Statistician to Officer-in-Charge Provincial Statistics Officer at the National Statistics Office (NSO) Zambales (2005 to 2007). She further solidified her expertise as Chief Statistical Specialist at SOCD-PSA RSSO III for 16 years.
RD Divino has initiated several special projects, including her Capstone Project, the Community-Database Information System in Lubao, Pampanga, and a Barangay Civil Registration System in various municipalities and cities in Central Luzon.
The pandemic posed significant challenges to the implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act, yet RD Divino demonstrated remarkable adaptability. She stretched the office’s efforts in implementing census operations at the local level despite restrictions. “Going out and gathering data and conducting surveys were very constricted since most people were stuck at home, even though all PSA offices were working onsite. This made us turn to using Google Forms and have weekly virtual meetings to monitor the whole operations in the region. The advantage was it made you look at different forms in monitoring the whole census,” she explained. She added that the Central Regional Office updated its tools and equipment with management support, leading to the successful conduct of the census operations.
Looking ahead, RD Divino aims to further improve her Capstone Project, which has already been institutionalized. She plans to elevate it to the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) to reduce the financial burdens on municipalities. Jennielyn S. Mariano, MMC 30 alumna, also worked on enhancing this project.
RD Divino is also passionate about managing electronic/electrical waste (e-waste). This initiative led her to draft a manual on E-waste management for national government implementation.
RD Divino first learned about MMC when her former boss nominated her for bigger responsibilities. Initially overwhelmed, she doubted her ability to keep up with the program’s demands, surrounded by competent participants. “But you know, I just consistently told myself to enjoy the learning process, do everything to the best of my ability, and focus on thinking positively. Eventually, I overcame it, had fun, and grew.”
Reflecting on the Program’s impact on her career, she shared how it facilitated her smooth transition from staff to supervisor to head. “During the PMDP schooling, I learned that you need to trust your staff. You can delegate. But of course, for you to delegate, you need to trust your staff. To me, success or accomplishment is when I develop my staff into someone who can stand on his or her own and talk confidently.” She also emphasized the importance of honing negotiation and networking skills, which she applies in her role as RD.
To current, upcoming, and aspiring PMDP scholars, RD Divino advises, “Just enjoy while learning, and write what is in your heart. Remember that not everyone is born a writer. In PMDP, you will learn and discover yourself. To lead, you should know yourself first to lead and develop a powerful team in your office.”
RD Divino has a diverse academic background, viewing education as the most valuable channel to growth and development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Assumption, a Master’s in Applied Statistics from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and a Master’s in Development Management from the Development Academy of the Philippines, where she earned an academic award with the highest honors.
