The province of Negros Occidental is one of the Ten Outstanding Local Governance Program winners of the 2021 Galing Pook Awards for its Network Alliances for Coastal Wetlands Conservation.
The province received P300,000 in cash prize, and a Galing Pook marker and signage, during the virtual announcement and awarding of winners this afternoon, Oct. 20.
“I share this award with all the LGU members of the Negros Occidental Coastal Wetland Area Management Alliance, which covers 10 LGUs, from Bago City to the town of Ilog,” Lacson said in his acceptance speech.
He added that it is interesting and significant to note that Oct. 20 also marked the 5th year of the declaration of the Negros Occidental Costal Wetlands Conservation Area as a Ramsar Site for Wetland of International Importance.
“This honor will inspire and encourage us to do better and to do more in terms of good environmental governance,” Lacson said, adding that while the concern for the environment is a problem of global proportion, “we do see its adverse impact locally”.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Provincial Environment Management Office chief, Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, executive assistant to the governor and Public Information officer Charina Magallanes–Tan, and Ma. Elena San Jose of PEMO, were also with Lacson during the announcement and awarding of winners.
The 2021 Galing Pook Awards is presented by the Galing Pook Foundation, Department of the Interior and Local Government-Local Government Academy, and SM Prime Holdings.
The other winners are Cagayan de Oro for its “Health is worth fighting for”, Quezon City’s food security program, Agusan del Sur’s Upland Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development Convergence Program, the Municipality of Alabat in Quezon Province for its Coco Sugar: Making the Lives of Coconut Farmers;
San Juan City’s “Kalingap or Kaagapay, Lingkod at Gabay sa Pandemya” program, Valenzuela City’s Streaming School, Tagum City in Davao del Norte for its “Integrated Management and Sustainable Environmental Approach to Coastal and Underwater Resources”, and Valenzuela City’s Paspas Permit.
Launched on October 21, 1993, Galing Pook Awards is a pioneering program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by local government units. – GB
