ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. was elated to receive the Galing Pook Award marker from the Galing Pook Foundation during the turnover ceremony at SM City Iloilo yesterday.
The province of Iloilo was a 2023 Galing Pook awardee for its successful implementation of Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) program.
Galing Pook Foundation chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento led the ceremony together with SM Prime Holdings Consultant for Disaster Risk Resilience Alexander Pama, who is also an Ilonggo.
They were joined by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 director Juan Jovian Ingeniero; DILG-Iloilo provincial director Carmelo Orbista; Dr. May Ann Sta. Lucia, medical officer V and division chief of Local Health Support Division of the Department of Health Region 6; Provincial Administrator Raul Banias; Provincial Board member June Mondejar; and Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, among others.
Sarmiento lauded Defensor for his passion for governance through the implementation of the ZOD program which aims to achieve sustainable sanitation for Ilonggos, thereby improving their quality of life.
Iloilo is the first province in Western Visayas to achieve the ZOD Grade 1 status.
The Zero to Limpyo Iloilo: Movement for a Province-wide ZOD program was also one of the 10 awardees of the 2023 Galing Pook Awards conferred on October 12, 2023.
“What we need in government are passionate people. And that’s what Governor Defensor and the rest of the team in Iloilo Province showed to everyone,” Sarmiento said.
He congratulated Iloilo for winning the “Oscar Awards” for local government, adding that Galing Pook is the “toughest” governance award given to local government units.
He also commended the province for mobilizing the community and using a people-centered approach in its program, highlighting the importance of people participation in governance.
Governor Defensor, for his part, said the provincial government will use the criteria and standards of Galing Pook in elevating their work and achieving a high level of governance.
“What the Galing Pook has given to us more than the award are the standards that we will use in leveling up our work, our programs, and our projects. Because our mantra in the province is that good governance is a standard, not an objective,” he said.
Moreover, as part of the Galing Pook Roadshow in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the foundation also unveiled the “Galing Pook @30 exhibit” featuring the entry of Iloilo Province at the SM City lower ground floor. It will run until March 7.
The 2023 Galing Pook Awards will also be shown at all SM City Cinemas as part of the company’s support in achieving disaster resilience./PN
