Thursday, February 21, 2008 Speak Out: How the city won Galing Pook award By Dr. Encarnacion Daño
THE program of the Liga ng hga Lupong Tagapamayapa of Cebu City, “Strengthening Justice System in the Grassroots” won for the city the Gawad Galing Pook Award for 2007.
Gawad Galing Pook is a pioneering awards program that recognizes innovation and excellence in local governance.
In 2007, some 240 programs vied for recognition nationwide but only 19 were chosen finalists, including Cebu City.
The finalists presented and defended the program at the Ateneo de Manila University last Dec. 14, 2007.
City Councilor Edgardo C. Labella presented the program but I was the one who defended it, as demanded by the pool of judges.
Cebu City was among the ten declared as winners. The awarding ceremony will be held at Malacañang on Feb. 28, 2008 with President Arroyo as presentor.
Activities
Since 2003, the Liga conducted many activities to strengthen justice system in the grassroots. One of these was a seminar workshop for the Lupon in collaboration with the committee on laws chaired by Councilor Labella, who provided administrative and financial support.
Other Liga activities that produced positive results and were recognized by the Galing Pook Foundation were pulong-pulongs with the Lupons in the city’s 80 barangays, saturation drive to orient residents on the barangay justice system, trainors training that produced 47 accredited trainors, Katarungang Pambarangay congress and constant dialogue and consultations with Lupons and residents.
Among the reasons why Cebu City won the Galing Pook award are;
--The Liga and its program, “Strengthening Justice System in the Grassroots,” is the only one that exists in the Philippines;
--Cebu City has a pool of 47 accredited trainors;
--Lupons in the city received no less than P1,000 in honorarium;
--Lupons in the city underwent professional trainings;
--Lupons gave swift and efficient justice to thousands of beneficiaries who did not have access to justice before;
--and mediation done by Lupons generated millions of pesos in savings for the government and the people, considering that for every case they settled, government saves P10,000.
Support
The success of the Liga program can be attributed to the support of the following:
--DILG City Director Patricio Gabuya, who guided the Liga throughout its program implementation;
--Belinda Navasquez, who guided and motivated Liga officers;
--Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, who funded Liga activities;
--My management team composed of Siegfredo Sison and Jesus Cavada and vice-Presidents for the North and South districts respectively;
--Executive assistant to the President, Jovita Padilla;
--Vicente Bacus, secretary;
--Romeo Sisbreno, treasurer;
--Val Olandria, auditor;
--Herochel Bataluna and Ike Parinasan, PIO for the North;
--Teresita Jumao-as and Rosario Nacua, PIO for the South; and
--Ray Galas, Romeo Labiste, Ma. Elena Arejola and Glad Rafols, directors.
(Dr. Encarnacion C. Daño, retired dean of Student Affairs of Cebu Normal University, is program manager and president of the Liga)
