Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, MPA, CSEE, FICD is a familiar face in the circles of local government administration in the Philippines, having served in key positions in the multi-awarded Provincial Government of Bulacan since 1986 and worked with two (2) of the most highly-acclaimed, post-people-power provincial governors in the country—Roberto M. Pagdanganan and Josefina M. Dela Cruz. She is currently the Secretary General of the Provincial Administrators’s League of the Philippines and is the longest-serving Provincial Administrator in the country today. The author still holds the same position under the administration of newly-elected Governor Joselito R. Mendoza.
As Provincial Administrator of Bulacan for the last 17 years, Sta. Rita was at the forefront of history’s major turning points for Bulacan—the advent of local government decentralization and the national advocacy for greater local autonomy, the rise of cooperative development, the need for reinventing the bureaucracy, information technology and e-governance; all of which saw the ascent of the Province of Bulacan to national fame and recognition as one of the most progressive provinces in the country today.
Because of her commitment and dedication to public service, the author has been the recipient of various community and government awards. These include the Outstanding Employee Award for Senior Manager Level from the Provincial Government of Bulacan, Woman of Distinction Award from the Soroptomist Club of the Philippines in Malolos, Certificate on Excellent Project Management Skills from the Department of National Defense, and Outstanding Daughter of the Town of Calumpit from the Rotary Club.
Glads, as she is fondly called by her friends, finished her AB and masteral course in Economics at the University of the Philippines’ School of Economics in 1984 and 1986, respectively. In 2002, she completed her Certificate Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. In 2005, she received her masteral degree in Public Administration from the University of Regina Carmeli.
The author is happily married to businessman/farmer Fortunato A. Sta. Rita, and mother to Rafael Nic, Fortunato Jr., and Fort Christopher. She is the third of six children of Mr. Herman M. Cruz of Calumpit and Mrs. Ligaya Capule-Cruz of Malolos.
Running a Bureaucracy is the author’s maiden contribution to the literature on progressive local government administration in the Philippines.
Ma. Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, MPA, CSEE, FICD, is a familiar name in the circles of local government administrations in the Philippines, having served in key positions in the multi-awarded Provincial Government of Bulacan from 1986 until 2008. Her administrative prowess and innate familiarity with the workings of the bureaucracy landed her national positions in agencies critical to national development.
As Provincial Administrator of Bulacan for 17 years, Sta. Rita was at the forefront of history’s major turning points for the province – the advent of local government decentralization and national advocacy for greater local autonomy, the rise of cooperative development, the need for reinventing the bureaucracy, information technology and e-governance, all of which saw the ascent of Bulacan as one of the most progressive provinces in the country today.
Glads, as she is fondly called by her friends, has an Economics degree from the University of the Philippines and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the La Consolacion University of the Philippines. She attended a Certificate Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in 2002.
Also in 2011, she became full-pledged fellow in the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD).
After her legendary stint in in Bulacan, Sta. Rita worked as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) projects in the Philippines through the UPECon Foundation. In 2013 until 2017, she was appointed and served as the first woman President and CEO of the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) in which time the corporation experienced its first full financial turnaround with a Net Income of 2.9 Billion Pesos in 2015. She also once served as a Director of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Corporation and Chairman of its subsidiary, PNOC Development and Management Corporation.
Sta. Rita is also the co-Author with Magno, Galvez, and Reyes- Cantos of a UNDP/ Social Watch/ CSC’s 2011 essential reference on local government finance, “Towards an Informed Citizens’ Participation In Local Governance: Sourcebook On Local Public Finance”.
She was a recipient of the prestigious Medalyang Ginto honoring her as the Most Outstanding Woman of Bulacan during the province’s celebration of Women’s Month in 2023.
Prior to this, she was recognized as a “Dangal ng Lipi” or Pride of the Race—an honor bestowed only on Bulacan’s select citizens of distinction.
Her accolades reached as far south of the country where she was bestowed the rank of princes or “Bae A Sindaw Ko Pilimpinas“ (Princess of Light of the Philippines) by the Federation of the Royal Sultanate of Lanao, Marawi City, due to her outstanding performance in servicing the Bangsamoro homeland through her programs and activities as NAPOCOR President and CEO.
Also during her stint as NAPOCOR’s head executive, Sta. Rita was lauded “Power Woman of the Year” during the Power Electricity World Asia in Singapore in 2015.