BACOLOD City – The cities of Bago and Cadiz in Negros Occidental were among the Top 10 local government units (LGUs) in the country chosen to receive the inaugural Walang Gutom Awards of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Bago City’s Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Cadiz City’s Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. personally received the awards from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during the awarding rites in Malacañang Palace yesterday.
Walang Gutom Awards recognized the invaluable contributions of the LGUs in addressing food security and nutrition challenges.
The awards, in collaboration with Galing Pook Foundation (GPF), also aims to honor and replicate the best practices of LGUs in mitigating hunger in their respective localities.
Mayor Yulo said the award given by the national government is a validation of the sustained efforts of the city government in implementing programs and projects bannering the welfare and well-being of every Bagonhon.
“We thank the people behind the awards for considering the programs of our city worthy of emulation,” he said.
He also thanked the men and women of the city government, especially City Agriculturist-Designate Marvin John Blance and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Leah Pilipina Canayon, for their dedication and perseverance.
More than the recognition, Mayor Yulo said the award will further motivate the city government to continue pushing forth food sufficiency initiatives “as we aim to alleviate the lives of our people and as we look forward to achieving a food-secure and hunger-free Bago City.”
For his part, Mayor Escalante said the Cadiz City Government’s initiative – “Pagkaon Aton Tatapon-Bata Aton Giyahan sa Iya Kaalam” (Project PAT-BAGSIK) – was found by DSWD effective in eradicating or cushioning the impact of hunger.
“It’s also a whole-of-the-government approach that enhances integration, coordination, collaboration, and the over-all capacity to address interconnected issues in food security, poverty, hunger and malnutrition,” he added./PN
