DILG 12 Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa (3rd from left) handed over a plaque of recognition to South Cotabato Vice Governor Arthur Pingoy Jr. (middle), along with his team, during the 2023 “Pasidungog sa Dose” Awarding Ceremony for Outstanding LGU Implementers of DILG Programs, Projects, and Activities on October 31 in Koronadal City. RD Cabrido-Leysa thanked Pingoy and all other local government units for their unwavering support and commitment in elevating good governance in their respective provinces and municipalities. (Photo courtesy of DILG 12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) — The regional office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) awarded 43 outstanding local government units (LGU) with various awards and recognition during its 2023 “Pasidungog sa Dose” Awarding Ceremony for Outstanding LGU Implementers of DILG PPAs on October 31 at the EMR Convention Center in Koronadal City.
Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa commended officials for their efforts in implementing the different programs, projects, and activities (PPA) of the DILG in their respective provinces and municipalities.
She said the awards, timed with the observance of Local Government Code Month, were manifestations that “the LGUs are living up to the mantra, Keep the Fire Burning!”
Cabrido-Leysa said that the accolades were given to LGUs with the most functional Local Council for Anti-Trafficking-Violence Against Women and Children (LCAT-VAWC), Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards, Locally Funded Projects, GAD Program, Drug Free Workplace Seal Program, Local Legislative Awards Program, Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Program, and Peace and Order Council (POC) Program.
One of the outstanding LGUs named was the province of Sarangani, which bagged the Most Outstanding Peace and Order Council of Region 12 for CY 2022 along with other LGUs in the region.
Malungon Mayor Maria Theresa Constantino (2nd from right), whose town is a two-time grand slam winner for having the Most Outstanding Municipal Peace and Order Council and Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Sarangani’s true pride, huddled with the provincial government team during the DILG 12-initiated “Pasidungog sa Dose” Awarding Ceremony for Outstanding LGU Implementers of DILG PPAs. (Photo courtesy of the Sarangani Provincial Information Office)
Most of its municipalities, namely Alabel, Malungon, Malapatan, and Maasim, also received various awards and recognitions from DILG.
Sarangani Gov. Rogelio Pacquiao recognized the cooperation and support of the council members and stakeholders for the successful implementation of the peace and order programs in the province.
Pacquiao said the award served as proof of Sarangani’s “unwavering commitment” to attaining its goal of making sure that the province remains peaceful and a safe living place for its constituents.
Receiving the award on Pacquiao’s behalf were DILG Sarangani Provincial Director Samuel Camaganacan, POC Focal Person Lizette Lopez, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer-in-Charge Edith Mahilum, and Executive Assistant to the Governor Ser Rosenkranz Espartero.
The DILG also gave awards to the provinces of Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, the city of General Santos, and other municipalities in Soccsksargen.
Vice Mayor Glenn Hatulan (4th from right) of Tupi, South Cotabato, happily received along with team members the municipal government awards for various categories from DILG 12 during the 2023 “Pasidungog sa Dose” Awarding Ceremony for Outstanding LGU Implementers of DILG PPAs on October 31 in Koronadal City. (Photo courtesy of the municipal LGU of Tupi)
Meanwhile, Tupi Vice Mayor Glenn Hatulan expressed gratitude for the awards they received from DILG 12, as she dedicated them to other officials, colleagues, and staff in her town and vowed to sustain their efforts to excel with the help of other partners and stakeholders.
“Patuloy po kaming magtatrabaho at magsusumikap upang ang mahal po nating bayan ng Tupi ay patuloy na makikilala hindi lamang sa ating rehiyon kundi maging sa buong bansang Pilipinas [We will continue to work harder so that our municipality will be recognized not just in the region but in the entire Philippines],” said Hatulan in her Facebook page.
Aside from being hailed as having one of the most outstanding POCs, Tupi, one of the 10 municipalities in South Cotabato, was also named first place for the Local Legislative Award (LLA) at the provincial level and third place for the same category at the regional level.
Its mother province, South Cotabato LGU, was also commended with a plaque of recognition “for obtaining an ideal level of functionality for its CY 2023 Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (LCAT-VAWC) implementation covering the CY 2022 assessment year.”
Likewise, a plaque of recognition was conferred on the province of Cotabato for having “one of the Most Functional Local Project Monitoring Committees (LPMCs) in the Soccsksargen Region for FY 2023.”
Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza also noted that the province was recipients of other awards, such as ideal levels of functionality for its Local Committees on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (LCAT-VAWC) and Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC), including “Outstanding Efforts in Achieving a Drug-Free Workplace Seal Program (DFWP-SP).”
The province was also recognized as among the LGUs in the region to have obtained a “Minimum Eligibility Requirement for the Gender and Development (GAD) Seal Certification.” (CTA – PIA SarGen)
