Engr. Ricky’s 3Ps – Passion, Purpose, Profession

“Malapit sa puso ko ang pagsisilbi sa tao, pero hindi ako pulitiko, dahil isa akong public servant.” These were the words of Engr. Ricardo C. Herrera, the dynamic head of the Provincial Assessor’s Office, as we at 1Bataan joined him in memory lane as he traced his path that led him into becoming a government employee.

This diligent man confessed that he was an activist during the Marcos era, and that’s the source of his passion in serving the people.

Born on December 27, 1963, Engr. Ricky, as he is fondly, called is married to the hardworking Maria Lourdes Herrera, Department Head, Administration Office of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB). Their union is blessed with three children namely; Karlo Martin, Kara Mei and Kenji Mari. They presently reside at Villa Lina, City of Balanga.

He spent his elementary days at the Maximilo Elementary School and high school at the Bataan National School of Arts and Trades (BNSAT), now BPSU. Determined to get a degree, he enrolled at Adamson University with the course BS in Civil Engineering in 1985, and finished it in four and a half years.

Firm in his belief that learning is a continuous process, which he emphasized during our exclusive interview, he said, “Hindi naman fixed lagi yung kaalaman natin eh, kaya dapat patuloy ang pag-aaral”, hence he finished his Master’s Degree in Public Management at Columban College, Olongapo City in 1999.

His stint at the Bataan Provincial Government started in 1986 after the People Power or EDSA Revolution as a casual Civil Engineer at the Provincial Planning and Development Office. Receiving a minimum wage of 32 pesos a day, did not deter him from working hard and helping Bataeṅos until he became Project Development Officer IV. Owing to his vast experience in planning, he was tasked to create the Management Information Systems Office of the Provincial Capitol and became the first head of the said office.

It was during this time that the website of the provincial government (www.bataan.gov.ph) was conceptualized and created. Incidentally, he also headed the MIS office of the City Government of Balanga in 2000. In 2004, after a series of achievements and promotions, he was appointed as the OIC – Provincial Assessor.

To maintain the good performance of their office, which he describes as an income generating office, towards the achievement of the province’s vision, together with his workforce, they will hand-in-hand toil incessantly on their strategic initiatives to increase revenues by general revision, tax mapping and computerization of systems, adding that the Assessor’s Office plays a vital role in the economic growth of the province.

He sees to it that he balances his time well for work, family and some recreational activities. A loving and responsible family man, he relishes taking his family out for food trips, which is one of his ways of bonding with his family.

To be physically fit, he gives in to his love for sports such as bowling and billiards, wherein he excels having won a number of championship trophies in privately-sponsored tournaments. On top of these, he burns calories not carbon and indulges in biking.

In between performing the roles of a family man and the dynamic Provincial Assessor, Engr. Ricky, is also a member of the Free and Accepted Mason of the Philippines and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. But wait, he still has time to attend to their family businesses such as a franchise of Mister Donut and a Lotto Outlet from PCSO. This man is really no boring Jack!

As a parting shot, Engr. Ricky shared this advice “Allow your passion to become your purpose, and it will one day become your profession” – and that’s exactly what he did.