By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - Siayan,
Zamboanga del Norte, once known as the poorest municipality in the Philippines wins
accolade for being one of the 10 winners of the 2015 Galing Pook Awards.
Siayan’s Pangkabuhayan Centers under
Community Enterprise Development Program earned the municipality the much-coveted
award with a cash prize of P1-million.
Mayor Flora Villarosa said the award was so
fulfilling. Since she was elected as mayor of Siayan in 2010, she donated her net
monthly salary of P27,000.00 as start-up capital of the cooperatives in the 22
barangays and 2 big sitios of the municipality. As counterpart, the
farmer-members also paidP400.00 membership fee.
The annual Galing Pook Awards managed by
GalingPook Foundation recognizes innovation and excellence in local governance.
Since 1994, more
than 240 programs from 160 local government units nationwide have already won
the award.
Galing Pook Awards received 153 applications
nationwide, later trimmed down to 36 and finally 16 programs were considered
finalists adjudged by 17 panelists.
Winners are chosen each year from a wide
array of programs of the LGUs after being subjected to seven screening processes,
including actual site validation.
Other winning LGUs include: 1.Taytay, Rizal
(I luv Taytay); 2. Narra, Palawan (Phil. Cockatoo Conservation; 3. Albay (Humanitarian
Assistance and Economic Development Program); 4.Valenzuela City (Education 360
Investment Program); 5. South Cotabato (Minahang Bayan, a small-scale mining
program); 6. Southern Leyte (Ambao Fish Sanctuary and Reserve Area in Hinundayan); 7. Ilocos
Norte (Sirib Express); 8. Graceville, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan (Mapanagutang Pamamahala) and; 9.
South Cotabato (Friendly Drugs: PPP on Health Plus Project).