ANGELES CITY -- The local government unit LGU here recently received the Panata Ko Sa Bayan: Gawad Serbisyong Matapat recognition from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The city government said the recognition highlights its commitment to high-quality social services to the community.
Mayor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin Jr. attributed the award to the collective efforts of the workers and executives of the city government.
He expressed gratitude to DSWD and retired City Social Welfare and Development Officer Edna Duaso.
The award was conferred to the LGU on December 6, 2024, at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel and Event Center in Zambales.
This is part of DSWD's initiative to honor outstanding Local Government Units (LGUs) that excel in social protection programs and services.
Lazatin said the award serves as a testament to the city government's dedication to improve the lives of its citizens, through programs assessed under the Service Delivery Capacity Assessment criteria.
The mayor highlighted the regular house-to-house distribution of vitamins and financial assistance to senior citizens, solo parents, Persons with Disabilities, and transport groups.
Lazatin said he is also the brainchild of the plastic-to-rice exchange program to combat hunger and malnutrition.
He thanked his Chief Adviser, IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant Reina Manuel for supervising the programs.
To date, 4,099,976 kilos of plastic were exchanged to rice by the residents.
To complement his zero malnutrition program, Lazatin said he initiated the "pusong mamon" malunggay buns to monitor malnourished kids.
The house-to-house nutrition campaign has reduced the city's malnutrition rate from 1,500 families in 2021 to 617 in 2022, and 563 in 2023.
Lazatin said he also led the rescue of street children and families, and free treatment of mentally-challenged individuals.
The 70 Day Care centers, including teachers and students, were all taken cared of, the mayor said.
He mentioned the improvement of the centers' facilities, raising the honoraria of teachers, and the distribution of school supplies and gear to the students.
The Aeta tribe in Barangay Sapangbato was also being given kabuhayan assistance.
The 31 caretakers of the Angeles City Watershed are members of the Aeta tribe from Sitio Babo, Target and Bliss. They are receiving ?3,000 monthly honoraria from the city government for the after-care monitoring of the seedlings being planted.
The city government also launched the free caskets for burial assistance programs for indigent families.
The Lazatin administration received the Walang Gutom Awards (2024).
The LGU was named National Finalist for ts innovative "Walang Plastikan" program and got the Gawad Makabata Award in 2023 and 2022.
The city was also granted the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance in 2022.
Lazatin was recognized with the Gawad Parangal Award in 2024 as the Most Outstanding Local Chief Executive of the Philippines in the Highly-Urbanized City Category
In 2019, the mayor was named Philippine Icon in the service of Solo Parents.