House Extols Dagupena’s Appointment as U.S. Dep. Commissioner on Reclamation

 

A resolution was filed on Wednesday in the House of Representatives by Rep. Christopher de Venecia (Pangasinan-Fourth District) congratulating a Filipino-American woman from Dagupan City for her recent appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the United States of America’s Bureau of Reclamation.

Camille Calimlim Touton. from Barangay Tebeng in Dagupan, City, was the first Filipino-American appointed by United States President Joe Biden since taking office on January 20 this year.

The designation became historical to Dagupan City and to the Democratic Party’s Biden Administration.

The Bureau of Reclamation is a Federal Agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior which is in charge of water management and oversees dams, canals and hydroelectric plants across western United States.




Ms. Touton is the daughter of Carl Calimlim of Tebeng in Dagupan and Marlene Bangsal of Calasiao. Her grandparents are the late Camilo Calimlim, a retired U.S. Navy man; and former Tebeng Barangay Captain Juanita Calimlim, a close relative of former five-time Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.

Born in Quezon City, Ms. Touton grew up in Dagupan City and Calasiao. She and family migrated to the United States when she was yet in the grade school. In sponsoring the resolution, Rep. De Venecia said the appointment of Ms. Touton to her present position brings honor and pride not only to the people of Dagupan City but also the entire Philippines.

Aside from holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Ms. Touton finished Bachelors of Science in Communication Studies from the University of Nevada and completed her Master’s Degree in Public Policies from Georgetown University in Virginia.

As Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Ms. Touton’s work focuses on complicated issues on Western U.S. water policy and in formulating policies that could respond to the grave threats posed by climate change and unpredictable drought cycles. Before assuming her present post, Ms. Touton worked as professional staff members in House and Senate committees and in many other federal government positions and was one time former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science.