ILOILO – This province was adjudged the best performing in Western Visayas in this year’s Search for Excellence in Local Governance (Excell) Awards: Rising Above the Challenge.
The Excell Awards by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 6 headed by Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero had five categories – Excellence in Environmental Governance, Excellence in Economic Governance, Excellence in Social Governance, Excellence in Administrative Governance, and Legislative Governance.
The province garnered the first four and placed first runner-up in the Legislative Governance category, said DILG-Iloilo director, Teodora Sumagaysay in an interview with Panay News.
Aklan and Capiz were first runner-up and second runner-up in best performing provinces award, respectively.
According to Sumagaysay, this year’s Excell Awards focused on how local government units (LGU) were combatting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis.
Iloilo also had the most number of LGUs garnering various awards. These were as follows:
* Passi City – Best Performing City
* Concepcion – first runner-up in Best Performing 1st to 3rd class municipalities
* Tigbauan – second runner-up in Best Performing 1st to 3rd class municipalities
* Bingawan – second runner-up in Best Performing 4th to 6th class municipalities
* New Lucena – champion in 4th to 6th class municipalities
Passi City topped other component cities, highly urbanized cities and other cities in Region 6.
It was also adjudged as champion in Administrative Governance, Local Legislation, Social Governance, Environmental Governance, Economic Governance categories.
Meanwhile, New Lucena was hailed champion (4th to 6th class municipalities) in three out of five categories: Administrative Governance, Environmental Governance and Legislative Governance.
It was also first runner-up in Economic Governance and second runner-up in Social Governance.
“Daw wala gid man ako nag-expect,” shared New Lucena’s Mayor Liecel Mondejar-Seville to Panay News.
“Bag-o pa man lang ako nagbalik (as mayor). Ang programs bag-o naman nga gin-implement. Happy gid kita nga nalipay man ang taga-New Lucena,” Seville added.
Seville cited their Municipal Health Office, among other agencies, that spearheaded the early detection of COVID-19 symptoms, establishment of quarantine facility and massive 3Ms (mag-maskara, maghinaw kag magdistansya) campaign.
Meantime, the awardees received plaques, congratulatory banners and cash.
Sumagaysay said Iloilo can be considered as “home of decorated local governments.”
“Indeed, the culture of excellence is being embraced not only by the provincial government but also the municipalities. Kabay pa this will serve as a challenge to all LGUs to also blaze the trail,” added Sumagaysay./PN
