LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 2 (PIA) – Albay never waivers to pursue excellence among its programs and project evident anew of its feat notching for the third time the Galing Pook Awards, this year for the Good Governance in the field of humanitarian assistance missions not only within the province but also areas across the country hit by natural disasters.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda led the cooperating agencies, organizations, and other stakeholders in receiving the award conferred on Tuesday night at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Salceda said the feat has manifested anew a proof of the relentless efforts of the Provincial Government of Albay to bring the highest form of service closer to Albayanos.
Team Albay received the Galing Pook 2015 Award plaque plus a P100,000 check for notching the top award besting more than 150 other entries from different local governments across the country.
Other winners cited this year were (1) “I Luv Taytay! of Taytay, Rizal; (2) Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program of Narra, Palawan; (4) Education 360 Investment Program of Valenzuela City; (5) Minahang Bayan, A Small Scale Mining Program of South Cotabato; (6) Ambao Fish Sanctuary and Reserve Area in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte; (7) “Sirib Express” of Ilocos Norte; (8) “ Mapanagutang Pamamahala” of Barangay Graceville in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan; (9) Friendly Drugs:PPP on Health Plus Project of South Cotabato ; (10) Community Enterprise Development Program-Pangkabuhayan Centers of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte;
According to the governor, Team Albay symbolizes the four virtues pursued by the province, that is, Giving Back and Sharing, Equality, Unity and Constant Kindness," he said.
“Giving Back and Sharing manifests our gratitude to the Filipino people who did not forsake but provided aids in various forms to the Albayanos after typhoon "Reming" devastated almost 46 percent of Albay's economy, left hundreds deads, among others, in 2006,” he stressed.
Salceda added "With their help, we learned how to stand up and become better than before; therefore, Team Albay is about giving back and sharing what we have learned.”
Equality meanwhile indicates that Team Albay believes that the poverty or suffering of the people is not the will of God, who blessed everyone with human dignity and equality.
Salceda said, "it is within our powers to correct the historical and structural injustices, especially those manifested so brazenly in the negative impacts of climate change.
Unity, on the other hand, suggests that Team Albay is all about teamwork and united towards a purpose, all but for the good of the community.
“We believe that everyone has a contribution to make and therefore, together, we can make difference in the lives of the vulnerable. Thus, we believe in the ecosystem approach -- whole of government, whole of economy and whole of environment -- in delivering solutions to rescue, relief, early recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction," the governor said.
Constant Kindness, which Salceda has since incorporated the term into his Facebook account, also plays a very important role in pursuit of good governance in Albay.
Salceda said that Team Albay believes in being sensitive to the evolving individual realities in the community, both local and national, constantly prepared to respond to challenges while transcending class origins, historical circumstances and differences.
"A more progressive, competitive and egalitarian society where development is stronger, faster, higher and safer for everyone, where no one is left behind and where the potential and dream of every child are fulfilled," Salceda said of his vision for Albay and the rest of the country.
Dr. Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office head and a veteran disaster official, said the Galing Pook Award is a continuing challenge to the team and the province to deliver better and quality service to the people.
Daep said the first Galing Pook Award received by the province was the institutionalization of the APSEMO in 2008, then the second was accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals in best working health practices in 2011.
Galing Pook Awards is a pioneering program that recognizes innovations and excellence in local governance.
The awards program started on Oct. 21, 1993 under the joint initiative of the Local Government Academy, Department of Interior and Local Government, the Ford Foundation and other advocates of good governance from the academe, civil society and the government.
Galing Pook Award’s winners are chosen each year from a wide array of programs from the local governments after undergoing a rigorous multilevel screening process. The winning programs are selected based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, innovation and efficiency of program service delivery.
Meanwhile, organizations honored for the Galing Pook Foundation’s 1st Citizenship Award were the Cagayan de Oro-based Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI); Tagum Cooperative of Tagum City, Davao del Norte; and, Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance, Inc.
The Citizenship Award supports and builds on the core thrust of the Galing Pook Foundation in promoting good governance through its annual Galing Pook Awards.
The awards program was launched this year to search for, identify, recognize and promote the initiatives of individuals and civil society organizations working with the grassroots “who keep making good in the midst of continuing controversies in the government, socio-economic difficulties that beset not only the Philippines, and the development challenges brought about by the adverse effects of climate change.” (MAL-PIA5/Albay)