Tacloban City received PhP 2M as regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi winner

The local government of Tacloban will formally receive its regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award last Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Balyuan Convention Center, Tacloban City, said Regional Director Pedro A. Noval Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Dir. Noval revealed that Tacloban City bested Ormoc City (last year’s winner) and Maasin City to gain the regional award, which is given in recognition of exemplary and innovative governance in local government units (LGUs). Director Mariano Gabito of the DILG Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) presented the glass trophy, plaque and PhP 2 Million GPL cash prize to Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez and city officials. The Gawad was envisioned by the late DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo as a a total award concept and is conferred to a province, city or municipality for reason of exemplary performance in administrative, social, economic and environmental governance. To win the award, the LGU must first pass the minimum requirements: being a recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) Silver award and an Overall Performance Index of at least 4.00 in the annual Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) planning tool of the department. Aside from sustaining what it had achieved previously, the Gawad Pamana winners, according to the regional awards committee which conducted onsite validation, introduced innovations in public service delivery for the past three years, and received awards on governance during the rating period. “LGUs should seriously consider the results of their LGPMS, because this can tell them the strengths and weaknesses which still need intervention”, said Dir Noval as he underscored the importance of LGPMS in local planning. National government agencies, civil society, media, barangay officials and residents are expected to witness the ceremony which shall start at eight in the morning. Meanwhile, the PhP 3 Million prize and trophy as Gawad Pamana regional winner in the provincial category shall be presented to the Province of Leyte on another date. No town passed the statistical standards for the GPL regional award in the municipality category this year.