DILG-3 honors Gawad Pamana ng Lahi winners in Central Luzon

Department of Interior and Local Government regional office 3 on Wednesday honored the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi winners in Central Luzon in a ceremony held in Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Bulacan bagged the top prize in the provincial category while Nueva Ecija settled for second and Tarlac ended third.

On the other hand, San Fernando (Pampanga) landed first in the city category while San Jose (Nueva Ecija) finished second and Palayan (Nueva Ecija) third.

Meanwhile, Llanera (Nueva Ecija) took home the top accolade in the municipal category with San Felipe (Zambales) and Plaridel (Bulacan) placing second and third respectively.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional information officer Miriam Gaviola explained that, "the Regional Gawad is conferred to local government units for reason of exemplary performance in Administrative Governance, Social Governance, Economic Governance, and Environmental Governance."

Gaviola further said, "this yearly award is also an instrument to scale-up the valuing of accountability, transparency, and involvement to local administration and development."

Exemplary performance information was drawn from the on-line Local Governance Performance Management System, Seal of Good Housekeeping, International Organization, or National Government Agency-bestowed Award/s and acknowledged innovation/s which were introduced within the last three years such as cost-cutting measures, improvements in internal administrative systems and partnerships with civil society organizations.

The winners were picked by a selection committee composed of the regional heads of DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Budget and Management, Civil Service Commission, and Department of Health plus the chairperson of Angeles City Kuliat Lions Club and president of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Politics.

President Benigno Aquino III personally conferred the citations to all regional awardees across the archipelago during the conclusion of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of local autonomy in the country last week at the Philippine International Convention Center. (PIA)