PNoy Confers Galing Pook Award

His Excellency, Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Philippines, conferred the Galing Pook Award to the 10 Outstanding Local Governance Programs for 2011 in an awarding ceremony in Malacanan last Monday, January 30, 2012.

The awardees are Sarangani Province; Misamis Oriental; Upi in Maguindanao; Zamboanga del Norte; Limasawa in Southern Leyte; Alimodian in Iloilo; Bohol Province; Maribojoc in Bohol; Albay Province and the Inter-Local Health Zone II in Quezon composed of the municipalities of Real, Infanta, Gen. Nakar, and Panukulan (ReINaPan).

President Aquino lauded the efforts of the winners to achieve growth and development for all, with the active participation of citizens themselves.

"Sumasaludo po ako sa mga local chief executives na kasama natin ngayon. Hindi niyo lamang sinisiguro ang tagumpay ng bawat isinasagawa ninyong proyekto; binibigyang-lakas din ninyo ang mga mamamayan upang makilahok sa katuparan ng ating mga adhikain. Magkakaiba man ang napili ninyong estratehiya sa pagtugon sa iba’t ibang problema, iisa pa rin ang direksyon ng inyong mga napagtagumpayan: ang kaunlarang hindi lamang para sa iilan, kundi para sa lahat, lalo na para sa mga kababayan nating naiipit sa laylayan ng lipunan," the President said in his Keynote Address.

The President also stressed the significant role of local government units in the pursuit of national development: "Kayo ang katuwang ng ating administrasyon sa pagpapatupad ng mga reporma sa lokal na antas; kayo ang nagsisilbing sangay ng pambansang pamahalaan sa pagsisigurong tugma ang ating mga inisyatiba at proyekto, at direkta nitong naaapektuhan ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino sa positibong paraan."

Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government assisted the President in conferring the award, together with Galing Pook Awards National Selection Committee Chairperson Rafael Coscolluela, Galing Pook Foundation Chairperson Ma. Nieves Confesor, Landbank President and CEO Gilda Pico, DBP Senior Vice-President Cresenciana Bundoc, and Galing Pook Foundation Executive Director Eddie Dorotan.

The winners for 2011 were selected from 137 entries all over the country, of which 55 are from Luzon, 33 are from the Visayas, and 49 are from Mindanao.

The Galing Pook Awards 2011 is conducted in partnership with the Ford Foundation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Local Government Academy, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Development Bank of the Philippines. -- AHA