SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Feb. 29 (PIA) — The Provincial Government of La Union, through its Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO), continues its initiatives for a sustainable environment through its annual Search for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest (CSG) Local Government Unit.

The annual search aims to mobilize all sectors of society in transforming and helping their communities into clean, safe, and green areas.

It also promotes a venue for people’s participation in community development efforts and institutionalizes a system of providing recognition to the cleanest local government units (LGUs) throughout the country.

A team of validators has already visited two municipalities in the province such as Bacnotan and Balaoan and will validate the other 18 LGUs until April 17. 

The Provincial Search Committee comprises representatives from the various departments of the provincial government, the private sector, and some national government agencies including the Philippine Information Agency.

“We are glad to inform you that each year, we could see some improvement in LGU initiatives in maintaining cleanliness and peace in our province La Union,” said John Anthony Dacanay, community development officer of PG-ENRO.

All 19 municipalities and one city of the province will be assessed for their general cleanliness, support systems under sanitation and environmental management, urban greening, public safety, and peace and order.

The top three winners for the 1st to 3rd class municipalities will receive P1.5 million, P1 million, and P750,000.

Under the 4th to 5th class municipalities, winners will be awarded accordingly up to P1 million,  P750,000, and P500,000 worth of prizes.

Further, the top three LGUs with the cleanest bodies of water will be adjudged and will garner P1 million, P750,000, and P500,000 respectively.

All prizes will be worth of projects that will be used by winning LGUs for high-impact projects in the province.

“Our winners should comply with project proposals that are connected to environmental protection,” said Dacanay.

The awarding ceremony for CSG will be held in June this year where each awardee will be given a plaque of recognition and a cash prize.

The Provincial Government of La Union vows to fully support the project as it is geared towards the attainment of the vision of the province to become the Heart of Agri-tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025 through maintaining the cleanliness of its LGUs and promotion of environmental awareness and protection. (JCR/AMB/KJCR, PIA La Union)