Tongson graduates magna cum laude, harvests 4 awards in UNO-R graduate program

June 20, 2024

Himamaylan City Mayor Raymund Tongson will reap the fruit of his hard work as he is set to graduate magna cum laude in Masters in Public Administration and Government at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos 78th Commencement Exercises on June 22, 2024.

**MULTIAWARDED.** Mayor Raymund Tongson does the Himamaylan sign as he proudly shows off his medals.*

During the Recognition Rites and Baccalaureate Mass on June 20, Mayor Tongson also received four awards, becoming one of the most outstanding graduates of Class 2024 of UNO-R Graduate School.

The city mayor was awarded the St. Thomas Villanova Award or Most Outstanding Thesis for his paper “Economic and Social Benefits and Challenges in the Infrastructure Projects Implementation in a Component City in Southern Negros Occidental.” It was presented during the 5th Virtual Graduate Education Multidisciplinary Research Colloquium (GEMRC) on May 24.

He also received the Best Oral Research Presenter Award under the group 6 (Business, Technology, and Wellness category) with the same paper. His study also received the Best Paper Award.

Tongson was also recognized with the Research Conference Productivity Award after receiving the Best Oral Presenter Award during the 2nd International Conference on Higher Education on April 29-30 organized by Philippine Association of Institutions for Research, Inc.

“It has been an arduous yet fulfilling journey, but this is just the beginning for better public service,” said Tongson who have been diligently taking his graduate program while still working full time as chief executive of Himamaylan.

Mayor Tongson will receive a medal and a Certificate of Merit during the commencement exercises.

He said he made it a point to take up a Masters in Public Administration and Governance to expand his horizons about government service and ensure that he is better equipped to serve Himamaylanons.

“Being elected as the city’s chief executive is not enough. As a public servant, one must constantly seek improvement,” said Tongson.

The city mayor looks forward to use his master’s degree to better manage the city government, improve programs, strengthen partnerships, and deliver quality service.*