DILG-1 Confers ‘Mother of Governance Awards’ to LGU-Pangasinan

Lingayen --- The province of Pangasinan led by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. received the regional award for Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL), considered the ‘mother of governance awards’, from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the agency’s rites for  Araw ng Parangal on October 30 at the Vigan City Convention Center, Ilocos Sur.

DILG Region 1 Director Corazon Guray hailed the awardees as “mga bagong bayani ng ating bayan,”’ even as she stressed that “The three local government units being awarded with GPL exemplify excellent performances in the Department’s Local Governance Performance Management System’s (LGPMS’s) Administrative, Social, Economic and Environmental Governance and Valuing Fundamentals of Good Governance, and the 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) – Silver Level”.

The GPL, “a total concept” award conferred to a Province, City or Municipality implemented by the DILG in partnership with other stakeholders gives due recognition to the efforts and contributions of local governments in the advancement of local governance.

DILG Assistant Regional Director Julie Daquioag who described the award as ‘the mother of governance awards’ said that awardees have set high standards in local governance with their innovative approaches undertaken in rendering services to the people.

As the province just recently was announced top contender for the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) – national level, second runner-up in the national Pearl award in recognition of the best tourism practices and over-all champion in the Batang Pinoy – Northern Luzon Leg, Governor Espino was elated, saying: “This award (referring to the GPL) conferred to the province is for the Pangasinenses who are filled with hope for the betterment of Pangasinan”.

“We see the importance of civil society groups because they serve as partners for local governance serving in various capacities,” Dir. Guray stressed as she expressed hopes that by 2013 the Millenium Development Goals will be realized.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) Benita Pizzaro delivered the précis of the ‘Ilog Ko, Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko’, the GPL entry for innovative project. An audio-visual production on the advocacy produced by the Provincial Information Office was presented later.

The province of Pangasinan, Vigan City (Ilocos Sur), and Municipality of San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte) are the 2012 GPL Region 1 Champions and the nominees of the region in the first-ever national GPL.

The innovations in local governance of these three in the past three years propelled them to surpass the other 126 LGUs of the region.

Dir. Guray reported that the three nominees of region 1 for the national GPL are in the shortlist and of top four contenders in their respective categories validated by a national team. The national winners will be announced in mid-November.

Joining Gov. Espino in receiving the award were Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., Board Members Von Mark Mendoza, Raul Sison, Jeremy Agerico Rosario and Mojamito Libunao, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, PPDO Pizzaro and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco.

Other LGUs hailed as runners-up were: Province category – Ilocos Norte (1^st Runner-Up), La Union (2^nd Runner-Up); City category – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (1^st Runner-Up), City of San Fernando, La Union (2^nd Runner-Up); and Municipality category – Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (1^st Runner-Up), Agoo, La Union (2^nd Runner-Up).

The DILG Region implemented the GPL with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) as members of the Regional Awards Committee (RAC).

            Meanwhile, plaques of gratitude were awarded to Pangasinenses whose service in their respective Non-Governmental Organizations is beyond measure. They were: Ms. Carmelita Duque (Provincial Federation of NGOs in Pangasinan); Ruperto Cagaoan (Alagad Kalikasan – Western Pangasinan); Ms. Marife Estrada (Rotary Club of Urdaneta City); Erlinda Madrid (Sons-Daughters Association of Aguilar Pangasinan). Romulo Columbres, barangay captain of Capaoay, San Jacinto, Pangasinan, together with barangay officials also received the Lupong Tagapamaya Incentives award for the Municipality “A” category.