Former CSC chair Karina David passes away

Former chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Karina Constantino David has passed away. She was 73. 

She is the loving wife of journalist and professor Randy David, and mother of GMA News reporter and documentary filmmaker Kara David.

"Much of her life was spent serving the Filipino people in her work as professor, activist, community organizer, and public servant. She was a patriot in the true sense of the word," read a portion of the statement released by her family.

"As a professional, she was the epitome of discipline, intelligence and integrity; as a wife, mother, and grandmother, she was the perfect example of patience, selflessness and unconditional love."

Details on her wake are to follow.

David is survived by her husband University of the Philippines (UP) professor emeritus Randy; their children Carlos Primo, Kara, Nadya, and Jika; and their grandchildren Julia, Jacinta, Xavier, Alonso, and Lila. 

"In lieu of flowers, the family requests for prayers for the repose of her soul."

Public service

Prior to her appointment at the CSC, David was an undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from 1986 until 1988.

David also served as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) from 1998 until 2000.

In February of 2001, she was appointed chief of the CSC by then President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Under David’s watch, the CSC redefined the performance management system in government offices, including the introduction of a new system in the filing of statement of assets and liabilities (SALN) of officials.

The former chairperson also made the unprecedented move of criticizing what she called the "palakasan" system in government, stating that several of the presidential appointees did not possess qualifications to perform their duties to the Filipino people.

David became the first Filipino to receive the World Bank’s Jit Gill Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service for her efforts in “protecting upright and honest civil servants by broadening the application of merit-based recruitment, performance evaluation, and promotion processes."

David leaves behind a sterling legacy not only as a public servant.

As an academician, she taught as a professor at UP Diliman and once headed the Department of Community Development.

David was also a known advocate for the rights of women, children and the poor.

She has been at the helm of several organizations such Harnessing Self-Reliant Initiatives and Knowledge (HASIK) and Every Woman; and was one of the founders of the Child Protection Network (CRN) aimed at safeguarding the well-being of children and families.

She also carried her advocacy to the arts as the guitarist-composer of Inang Laya, a group known for their progressive and feminist songs. — LA, GMA News