BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City –The city government is again a finalist in the Galing Pook Awards, this time due to its sports program.
The initiative, “Iloilo City Sports Academy (ICSA): A Grassroots Sports Program for the Ilonggo Youth”, is designed to inspire youth participation in sports, nurture their potential, promote a healthy lifestyle, and deter them from engaging in vices.
ICSA offers free training to youths aged five to 15, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and skill development.
In August, a team from the Galing Pook Awards visited the city to assess its entries, which included the Iloilo Heritage Program (unfortunately, it did not qualify).
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas welcomed Iloilo City’s inclusion in the Galing Pook Awards once again. He sees it as a testament to the city’s dedication to providing inclusive and accessible government services and programs for all residents.
In the previous year, the city government’s I-Bike Program, aimed at promoting a bike culture, was recognized and awarded by Galing Pook.
Additionally, among the 17 finalists for the 2023 Galing Pook Awards from the region are:
* Bago City in Negros Occidental, recognized for its “Reviving the Majestic Diversity of Bago Watershed” program, focused on Ridge to Reef Environmental Management and Integrated Ecosystem Management
* Iloilo Province’s initiative, “Mobilizing Communities through People-Centered Zero Open Defecation Movement Towards Sustainable Sanitation in the Province of Iloilo”
The finalists will have the opportunity to present their programs on Oct. 11. Subsequently, on Oct. 12, 10 outstanding local governance programs will be honored with awards.
Galing Pook annually celebrates and acknowledges the finest and most innovative local governance programs, highlighting the significance of citizen involvement and the delivery of positive results in local communities. (With a report from Iloilo City PIO)/PN
