THE Department of the Interior and Local Government-Northern Mindanao (DILG-X) is enjoining local government units (LGU) in Northern Mindanao with innovative best practices to send their entries to Galing Pook Foundation for the 2010 Galing Pook Awards.
Galing Pook is a pioneering program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by LGUs launched on October 21, 1993.
Loreto T. Bhagwani, DILG regional director, hoped that this year, more LGUs will follow the victories of Valencia and Malaybalay cities in last year’s award.
On December 4, 2009, the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay in Bukidnon joined the other awardees in receiving their Galing Pook plaques from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a prestigious awarding ceremony at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall.
Punong Barangay Roy Parreno of Barobo in Valencia City and Mayor Florencio Flores Jr. of Malaybalay City were present to receive their awards.
Barobo was awarded because of its successful Organic Fertilizer Marketing, the vermiculture of African Night Crawlers, while Malaybalay City was recognized for its innovative Integrated Survey System, the accurate gathering and processing of data for better delivery of social services which was actually patterned from the Community-Based Monitoring System, a project of the DILG.
Rafael L. Coscolluela, chairperson of Galing Pook Foundation, said last year, there was an unexpected twist as the Foundation was bestowing for the first time the annual recognition to 14 instead of 10 LGUs.
“Peace-building initiatives, effective environmental protection, health promotion, government-private sector partnerships for public welfare, financing public services, a comprehensive information system and an incentives program for local innovations are the areas pursued by our new Galing Pook awardees,” Coscolluela said.
He said the awardees capture “our imagination and strengthen our faith that good governance can and does prosper in our beloved country.”
Awardees of the Galing Pook are chosen from a national search of local governance programs and evaluated through a multilevel rigorous screening process based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, transferability and sustainability, and efficiency of program service delivery.
Beyond the awards, the winning programs become models of good governance promoted for adoption in other communities.
Interested LGUs may download application forms from the Galing Pook Foundation website www.galingpook.org or call (02) 4334731 to 32 or (02) 9264136 or send email to awards@galingpook.org.
Deadline for the submission of entries is on July 30. (PR)