The Galing Pook Awards was launched in 21 October 1993 as a pioneering program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by the local government units. LGU finalists with outstanding initiatives are carefully selected and winners are recognized in a very prestigious awards ceremony. The award is conferred by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

The awardees of the Galing Pook are chosen from a national search of local governance programs, evaluated through a multilevel rigorous screening process based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, transferability and sustainability, and efficiency of program service delivery.

Beyond the awards, winning programs become models of good governance promoted for adoption in other communities. They provide useful insights and strategies to find innovative solutions to common problems. More importantly, they affirm the community and the local government’s commitment to good governance.

Since its inception, at least 215 programs of 136 local governments were awarded the Galing Pook. These awardees become very important advocates in stimulating and inspiring other local governments to introduce innovative practices and provide a fertile environment for the replication of successful reforms.

AWARD CATEGORIES:

The Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs
The Galing Pook is conferred to 10 outstanding local governance programs every year.

Award for Continuing Excellence
The Award for Continuing Excellence or ACE Award is conferred to an LGU which has sustained and demonstrated significant achievements along the various Galing Pook local governance criteria. To qualify, an LGU must have at least three Galing Pookawarded programs. The ACE Award requires that the awarded programs are sustained and improved and that a culture of excellence is manifested in the locality.

*** Note: Only previous awardees of the Galing Pook Award with at least three Outstanding Program Awards are qualified for the ACE. The Awards Secretariat will contact those who are qualified for more details.

Special Citation

From time to time, a Special Citation on key advocacy themes or governance performance areas may be given by the Foundation based on its current development thrusts.

DBP Special Citation on Local Fiscal Management
This citation is conferred to a local government unit which has shown commendable management of its fiscal resources as shown by declining dependence on the Internal Revenue Allotment and increasing percentage of local revenue, among other indicators.

Given in partnership with:

Development Bank of the Philippines

Economic Policy Reform and Advocacy Project

United States Agency for International Development

Special Citation on Local Capacity Innovations
for the Millennium Development Goals
This citation was conferred in 2006 to local government units selected from previous recipients of the Gawad Galing Pook that demonstrated positive innovative approaches towards achieving any of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Given in partnership with:

United Nations Development Programme

Capacity 2015 Programme

Special Citation on Child Rights Responsive Local Governance:
This citation is awarded to local government units demonstrating exemplary initiatives that respond to child rights concerns.

Given in partnership with:

United Nations Children’s Fund

Special Citation on Gender Responsive Local Governance:
This citation is awarded to LGUs that have developed best practices that respond to the gender and development issues.

Given in partnership with:

National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women

Canadian International Development Agency

United Nations Development Programme

Special Citation on Good Urban Local Governance:
This award is given to outstanding local government units for responding to urban governance issues.

Given in partnership with:

United Nations Development Programme

Philippine Urban Forum

United Nations Human Settlements Program

Special Citation on Local Initiatives for Population, Health and Development:

Special Citation on Local Peace Building Initiatives:

Special Citation on Productivity and Quality Responsive Local Governance:

AWARD CRITERIA:

SELECTION PROCESS:

Eligibility Screening: The GPF secretariat reviews whether the program submissions meet the eligibility criteria.

First Level Screening: The National Selection Committee (NSC) goes over all applications to initially screen and identify programs with high potential. These programs will be turned over to the Regional Selection Committee (RSC) for a more in-depth assessment and review.

Second Level Screening: The RSC evaluates and recommends programs for elevation to the next screening level.

Third Level Screening: The NSC reviews the RSC recommendations and identifies the programs for site validation.

Site Validation: Assigned NSC members and (as necessary) selected RSC members and GPF personnel validate program claims and clarify concerns raised in previous screening levels. Results of the validations serve as basis for the NSC to select the programs to be subjected to the final presentation.

Panel Interview: The local chief executives (LCEs) and/or program officers of qualified entries present and defend their programs before the NSC members and their co-finalists.

Awards Ceremony: The Galing Pook Award is conferred by the President of the Philippines in a ceremony held at the Malacañang Palace.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

For your program to be considered for the Gawad Galing Pook, it must meet the following minimum requirements:

• It must have involved or engaged processes within a local government unit (barangay, municipality, city, or province) even if the program might have been initiated (either independently or jointly) by an NGO, CSO and/or an LGU.
• It must have been in operation for at least one (1) year before the deadline of submission.
• It must have verifiable and significant results.