To: Bureau and Regional Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Heads of Public Secondary Schools

1. In recognition of the outstanding achievements of students in the secondary level in five areas of co-curricular participation, the Office of the President and the Department of Education will confer the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) Award of Outstanding Achievement during graduation rites to deserving students of public secondary schools across the country.
2. The President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) Award of Outstanding Achievement consists of five categories, namely; student leadership, campus journalism, athletics, culture and arts, and technology and entrepreneurship. As such, there shall be five awardees per school.
3. The following shall guide the selection of the student-awardees:
   1. Student Leadership
      The PGMA Award for Outstanding Achievement for Student Leadership shall be given to the ‘student who has shown active involvement in school organizations as officer, particularly the student government and other clubs or organizations. The student must have exhibited notable performance in implementing programs and projects and in delivering services for the school and the nearby community.
   2. Campus Journalism
      The PGMA Award for Outstanding Achievement for Campus Journalism shall be given to the student with the most outstanding achievement in the school paper, other organs or journals and who has exhibited the proper ethics, skills and talent in the various fields of journalism, and who has brought prestige and honor to the school through various competitions and exposures.
   3. Athletics
      The PGMA Award for Outstanding Achievement for Athletics shall be given to the most outstanding athlete of the school in whatever sport or combination of sports, whether competitive or not, and who exemplifies the ideals of healthy and honorable sportsmanship, and who has brought pride and honor to the school.
   4. Culture and Arts
      The PGMA Award for Outstanding Achievement for Culture and Arts shall be given to the most outstanding student who has manifested excellence in the field of arts, whether it be visual (painting, sculpture, design or graphic), performance (dance, theater or music) or literary (poetry or prose), and who has brought prestige and honor to the school through competitions and other exposures outside the school.
   5. Technology and Entrepreneurship
      The PGMA Award for Outstanding Achievement for Technology and Entrepreneurship shall be given to the outstanding student who excelled in the field of Technology and Livelihood Education. The student must have been an active participant in skills training/competitions (STEP) and/or have shown great potentials in entrepreneurial endeavours (YECS).
4. These awards will be in the nature of an open competition focusing on total achievement in each category notwithstanding the performance in academic work nor the year level of the student. It shall be in the form of a Special Certificate, placed in a specially-designed certificate holder, with the seal of the President prominent in the design and with the signature of both the President of the Philippines and the Secretary of Education.
5. The School Principal and all subject area Department Heads shall form themselves into a committee to select the five awardees, the names of which shall be submitted to respective Division Offices for consolidation and reporting.
6. The Regional and Division Offices shall initiate the immediate distribution of the certificates to all secondary schools nationwide before all graduation ceremonies are held.
7. Immediate and wide dissemination of this Order is directed.

Reference:
DepED Memorandum: No. 51, s. 2003
Allotment: 1–(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
PRIZES or AWARDS
SECONDARY EDUCATION
STUDENTS

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