Ipileño Engr. Ted Buenavista Shortlisted for 2025 Presidential Gawad CES Award

Daphne Santuyo

The Career Executive Service Board (CESB) has officially released the list of shortlisted nominees for the 2025 Presidential Gawad CES Award, bringing pride to Zamboanga Sibugay with the inclusion of Engr. Teodoro “Ted” Buenavista, an Ipileño and a distinguished career executive in government service.

Through the CESB Secretariat, the Board announced that the nominees are now subject to public validation, inviting feedback, reports, affirmations, or oppositions regarding the shortlisted officials. The public is encouraged to submit any relevant information on or before January 9, 2026, as part of the transparent and participatory evaluation process for the prestigious award.

Engr. Buenavista currently holds a key executive position in the national government, continuing his long-standing commitment to public service under the Career Executive Service. He is widely known for his previous tenure as Regional Director of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Region 9, where he demonstrated strong leadership, technical competence, and a strong commitment to improving telecommunications regulation and services across the Zamboanga Peninsula.

An alumnus of Marian College, Ipil, Batch ’82, Engr. Buenavista’s roots in the community run deep. His journey from a local educational institution to the upper ranks of the national bureaucracy serves as an inspiration to young professionals in Ipil and the wider province, showing that dedication, integrity, and excellence can lead to national recognition.

During his time at NTC-9, Engr. Buenavista was instrumental in strengthening regulatory oversight, addressing consumer concerns, and supporting initiatives aimed at expanding reliable and accessible communication services, an essential pillar of governance, economic activity, and public safety. His work earned him respect among colleagues, stakeholders, and local communities.

The Presidential Gawad CES Award is one of the highest honors conferred upon members of the Career Executive Service, recognizing exemplary leadership, integrity, professionalism, and sustained contributions to nation-building. Nominees undergo a rigorous screening process, with public participation serving as a crucial safeguard to ensure credibility and accountability.

For the people of Ipil and the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Engr. Ted Buenavista’s inclusion in the shortlist stands as a testament to the caliber of leadership that can emerge from the community- leaders who bring local values to the national stage in the service of the Filipino people.