The City of Cadiz in Negros Occidental harvested multiple accolades in 2023, serving as testaments to its effective and efficient services for the greater good of Cadiznons.
Cadiz was among the local government units that received the Seal of Good Local Governance award from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
It was hailed as one of the national awardees in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Lunsod Lunsad Creative Cities.
In the regional level, Cadiz also won three major awards in the DTI’s Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index.
It won first place both in the government efficiency and most improved categories, and was second place in innovation.
Both the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) and City Assessor’s Office were cited by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) in Region 6 as number one among the 16 cities in Western Visayas with efficient local tax collection.
BLGF 6 also praised Cadiz’s CTO for collecting locally-sourced revenues of more than P300 million in 2022.
In agriculture, Cadiz City Agriculture Office was named as “Top Yielder” awardee in the entire province for reaching an average of 4.14 metric tons per hectare of rice production.
Its Local Civil Registry was fourth placer in the entire region for the Philippine Identification System implementation and was also cited by the Philippine Statistics Authority for its outstanding performance on birth registration.
On environmental programs, Cadiz was feted as among the Abanse Negrense Good Environmental Governance Awardees for its outstanding environmental information, education and advocacy campaign.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. was named Environmental Champion Excellence awardee by the Provincial Environment and Management Office.
In social services, Cadiz received citations on Supplementary Feeding Program-12th Cycle, Liso Kabuhi Ko Community and Family Gardening Program as well as placed fourth in Gender Responses in the 18-Day to End Violence Against Women and Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services implementation.
The city’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program child beneficiary, Louraine Gallo, was declared champion in this year’s search for Outstanding 4Ps Children.
Cadiz also won second runner-up in the Pearl Awards of the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines and Department of Tourism for Best Tourism Weekly/Monthly Celebration.
It is also a “Pagdayaw” awardee in the region for an effective campaign on accreditation of tourism establishments.
In the field of information and communication, Cadiz’s monthly and bi-annual publications also won in the region.
The Presidential Communications Office through the Philippine Information Agency in Region 6 cited Saganak, the city’s monthly newletter, as among the top three leading government newsletters in Western Visayas.
Cadiz Bulletin’s feature story – The Culture – was also chosen as third placer in the special edition category.
The city’s Nutrition Council was awarded with the “Green Banner Seal of Compliance” as well.
For three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, Cadiz was included among the five localities in Western Visayas to have excellent nutrition program aimed at fighting or eliminating malnutrition.
Cadiz’s Anti-Tuberculosis program was also cited excellent by the Department of Health.
The Provincial Health Office recognized Cadiz’s sustainable blood collection endeavor, Electronic Medical Record implementation and unwavering commitment to the Zero Open Defecation program of the province.
The Department of Labor and Employment cited Cadiz’s Public Employment Services Office for exceptional performances on Job Applicants Placement, Employment of Students, Integrated Livelihood Program, and Job Applicants Referral Program.
Escalante said he is “beyond proud” with all these awards.
“All these are an attestation that there’s greatness in oneness. Reaping these citations is not an easy undertaking,” he added.
Escalante said he is thankful for the support and cooperation of all the city officials, department heads and employees in all their endeavors meant for the “greatness” of everyone in Cadiz.
“The journey towards genuine and effective public service is winding. But focus is the key and people’s welfare is always our utmost priority,” he said.
The mayor said that this 2024, “We’re beyond ready for more challenges. We assure Cadiznons that we’ll do our best for their ‘grandness’ still.” ||
