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Vision T he Galing Pook awards is a pioneering program that recognizes innovation and excellence in local governance. We are a leading resource institution that promotes innovation, sustainability, citizen empowerment, and excellence in local governance. Mission It started in October 21, 1993 under the joint initiative of the Local Government Academy-Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Ford Foundation, and other individual advocates of good governance from the academe, civil society and the government. We promote excellence in local governance through recognition, sharing of information and support of efforts to replicate best practices at the local level. The Asian Institute of Management carried on the awards program until 2001. Earlier in 1998, the Galing Pook Foundation was formed as a juridical institution to sustain the program. We encourage partnerships among civil society organizations, private sector, and government agencies at local, national and global levels to improve quality of life. Contents 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 11 12 14 17 18 The Galing Pook The Galing Pook Awards 2015 Message from DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento Message from Galing Pook Chair Rafael Coscolluela Stories of Hope, PHLPost Postmaster General and CEO Ma. Josefina Dela Cruz Helping Shape a Better Future, LANDBANK President and CEO Gilda Pico Small Wins, Great Victories, SEAOIL Foundation President Mark Anthony Yu Multi-Sectoral Collaboration, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Resident Representative Berthold Leimbach Pangkabuhayan Centers: A Way Out of Poverty, Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte Local Garments Industry Institutionalization, Taytay, Rizal Ambao Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve Area, Brgy. Ambao, Hinundayan, Southern Leyte Team Albay Humanitarian Assistance Program, Albay LETS GO: A Model of Barangay Good Governance, Brgy. Graceville, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Involving the Youth in Community Development, Ilocos Norte 21 22 25 26 28 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 38 39 39 Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program, Narra, Palawan Minahang Bayanihan: Small Scale Mining Program, South Cotabato The Friendly Drugs: A PPP on Health Plus Project, South Cotabato Education 360° Investment Program, Valenzuela City Galing Pook Awards 2015 Finalists The Galing Pook Citizenship Award Empowering Communities in Peacebuilding and Development, BMFI Community-Based Monitoring of Government Programs and Services, CCAGG Contributing to Both Member’s Welfare and Community Development, Tagum Cooperative Galing Pook Citizenship Award Finalists 2015 GPA National Selection Committee Citizenship Award Selection Committee Board of Trustees and Secretariat Galing Pook Theme Song Mamamayan, Mamamayani Theme Song Cover design, layout, and articles by Allen M. Mariano • References supplied by LGUs • Photos courtesy of LGUs and GPF files 2 Galing Pook Awards 2015
G aling Pook received 153 applications for the Galing Pook Awards 2015. Municipalities are the most represented (41%), followed by entries from cities (30%), provinces (25%), and barangays (4%). Luzon is also the most represented (50%), followed by Mindanao (26%) and the Visayas (24%). All regions are represented, with most coming from Western Visayas (15%) and CALABARZON (12%). The applications were judged based on the following criteria: positive results and impact (30%), promotion of people’s participation and empowerment (30%), innovation (15%), transferability and sustainability (15%), and efficiency of program service delivery (10%). The applications were screened by a 17-member National Selection Committee from different fields of expertise and experience, chaired by former Sarangani Governor and Galing Pook’s first Jesse Robredo Leadership Awardee, Miguel Rene Dominguez. Of the 153 applications, only 38 made it to the site validation stage, and only 16 made it to the finals. This magazine features the 2015 batch of ten winners. Sponsors Galing Pook Awards 2015 3
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Office of the Secretary MESSAGE Congratulations to all the awardees of the 2015 Gawad Galing Pook! Over the years, the prestigious Gawad Galing Pook has been instrumental in recognizing excellent local governance and encouraging local government units to deliver excellent public service - that is innovative, effective, inclusive and forward-looking. Our LGUs have been making waves in coming out with best practices which are contributing to the global goals of ending poverty, protecting the environment, and ensuring social protection. The DILG is one with you in our common goal to uplift the quality of life of our Bosses—the Filipino people. This year’s awarding of the first Galing Pook Citizenship Award and the conduct of the first Governance Fair with the theme, “Mamamayan, Mamamayani” highlighted the value of empowering the citizenry to be part in nation-building while sending a strong message that local governance is everyone’s business. To the Galing Pook Foundation, we are honored to work with you in our steadfast promotion of excellence in participative local governance. Mabuhay! MEL SENEN S. SA ENEN S SARMIENTO E Secretary 4 Galing Pook Awards 2015
On behalf of Galing Pook Foundation, let me extend our sincere thanks to our supportive sponsors, friends and partners in civil society, government, academe, media, business and development institutions and all those who made this year’s celebration a rousing success. This year marked a most meaningful milestone for the Galing Pook awards program, one that witnessed a joint celebration of good governance and responsible citizenship under the theme Mamamayan, Mamamayani! Aside from the regular Galing Pook Awards for outstanding local government programs, we conferred the first Galing Pook Citizenship Awards to three inspiring civil society organizations. This new awards category was envisioned two years ago to give due recognition to what private citizens, civil society or non-government and people’s organizations are doing, often under trying circumstances, to contribute to the well-being of their specific constituencies and thus, to the development of the nation itself. How fitting it was, then, to proclaim and celebrate this year’s theme through a threeday Governance Fair, which highlighted not only models of good local governance but also the community-building initiatives of private citizens and organizations, those unsung heroes who do not leave the task of building our country solely to government. The theme for this year sends out the message that for this country to move forward, we need good governance that involves the citizens, and that we need to have citizens who engage their government to work better. Indeed, we need to work together towards making this country truly the kind that we all deserve. To all the winners and finalists of the Galing Pook Awards, congratulations! Remember to carry that award with pride as you continue to face the responsibilities that come along with it. Mabuhay ang mamamayan; mamamayani tayong lahat! RAFAEL L. COS OLLUEL AFAEL CO AEL COSCOLLUELA OSC Chairperson Ch Galing Pook Awards 2015 5
G ood local governance hardly gets media mileage. Stories on how a good Governor, Mayor or even Barangay Captain conquers trenchant issues in his or her locality gets relegated to the inner pages in small blurbs. And yet I firmly believe that good local governance is the next frontier in our drive to make a great nation out of our troubled and flawed political and economic past. Our local government units have the advantage to hastily address the concerns in the community, because our local executives are in the vantage point to know what’s happening on the ground and can expedite processes and harness more innovations. Local governments react faster to good leadership. They also, however, can go bad just as quickly, when there is no leadership. That is why I am highly honored to be able to congratulate the local teams behind this year’s winning programs for your commitment to results, for your commitment to transparency and accountability, and for your dedication in creating solutions that enhance the lives of your constituents. I know what it feels like to be faced with 100 million challenges and very little resources. What you do is no joke. Organizations like the Galing Pook Foundation are doing the nation a great service by recognizing local government programs and projects that are prompting real changes in real lives of real people, and we, at PHLPost, are fortunate to be part of this endeavor. To me, your stories feed hope to a nation that has a tendency of forgetting that it is a great one. Filipinos critic well and celebrate poorly. We love to rant. We love to paint a bleak picture. We love to complain without giving our own version of a solution. It is time for us to look at the bright side—objectively and maturely. real stories. You are the replicable case studies that will truly turn this country into a new Asian tiger. If we continue to build on what we see and hear, it is more likely that we will see our nation turn into a first-world country by the turn of the century. So congratulations to all the winners. Thank you for all that you do, and don’t stop here. Keep on blazing a trail for yourselves in the service of our nation. MA. JOSEFINA M. DELA CRUZ Postmaster General and CEO This kind of award, which measures real results, deserves to be in the front pages of the best newspapers in the country. You are the Helping Shape a Better Future As the country moves forward with the goal of inclusive growth through the extension of financial opportunities and other development assistance to remote and underserved areas, crucial to this endeavor is the ability and commitment to ensure that viable channels are within reach and made available to those in need. spective communities demonstrate the scale and potential that can be further explored and promoted toward positive transformation and nation-building. From public-driven, community development advocacies to environmental causes, we laud these remarkable efforts that are helping shape a better future for younger generations. It is with this thought that we at LANDBANK take pride in being a partner of the Galing Pook Foundation. Fostering and holding in high regard the practices and programs toward innovation and sustainable merit does more than validate the work of our local government units across the nation. Such actions are helping Filipinos find meaning in hard work, developing their capability for selfreliance and other socio-economic activities. Our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants to this year’s Galing Pook Awards. May you continue to serve as models of sustainable success to other communities, leading them toward their own paths to progress. A look at this year’s finalists and awardees reflects our ardent belief that success should go beyond financial gain. From various regions, these remarkable programs of our LGUs and exemplary individuals in their re- 6 Galing Pook Awards 2015 GILDA E. PICO President and CEO
G reetings and Congratulations to the Board, 2015 Galing Pook Finalists and Awardees! our partnership with Galing Pook in engaging Local Government leaders in this worthy endeavor. We are proud to be partners of Galing Pook in this worthwhile journey of engaging local government leaders and communities towards good governance. As we see the greatness with these local governments, we hope to be an invaluable supporter of Galing Pook in spreading good local governance in the country. We are committed to investing in these programs over the long term. We look forward to small wins that generate great victories. We look forward to the inspiring stories of constituents, mayors and governors as well as the things we will learn while working with them. We look forward to measuring progress by the ownership developed in leaders and quality of life improved in the municipalities and cities we engage. God Bless our partnership and this shared mission. MARK ANTHONY L. YU President At the end of the day-long presentations, deliberation and awards dinner, we left the Galing Pook celebration inspired with renewed spirit and drive towards good local governance advocacy. We wish to affirm Multi-Sectoral Collaboration O challenge the citizens to participate in the collective responsibility of nation-building. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is a German political-educational foundation. It has been active in the Philippines since 1964, cooperating with civil society organizations, labor groups, the academe and the government, in its aim to contribute in strengthening an inclusive political system and a people-centered economic development. This kind of activity makes us appreciate further the value of multi-sectoral collaboration–the coming together of engaged civil society organizations, strengthened local government units, and active citizens, is a manifestation of a modernizing approach towards better governance and development. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is more than fortunate to witness such a process on how de jure and de facto political power act together in trying to change (or preserve) political and economic institutions. As an institution committed to the values of social democracy, we are one in the fight of advancing progressive reforms that aim to address inequality and social injustice. As what Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan puts it: ‘good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.’ The governance fair convened by the Galing Pook Foundation is indeed both timely and refreshing. With the wider democratic spaces opened under the current administration, there is no better time to encourage and It is in this spirit that we thank Galing Pook Foundation. With them, we hope to help in showcasing more success stories of good governance from different parts of the country. n behalf of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, my warmest congratulations to the winners of the Galing Pook Citizenship Award and to the Galing Pook Foundation for taking the task of promoting active citizenship and good governance reform in the Philippines. BERTHOLD LEIMBACH Resident Representative Thank you and Mabuhay! Galing Pook Awards 2015 7
their beliefs and sense of self-worth. Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte Pangkabuhayan Centers: A Way Out of Poverty I n 2003, the Municipality of Siayan in Zamboanga del Norte was ranked as the top impoverished municipality. That is no longer the case. In July 2011, the Municipal LGU launched its Community Enterprise Development Program through Pangkabuhayan Centers (CEDP-PCenter). This program provided sustainable livelihood opportunities that led to substantial increases in the incomes of its poor constituents. The CEDP-PCenter program involves the establishment of small community-owned and community-managed merchandise stores in the 22 barangays of the municipality. The program calls on the poorest residents to pool their resources together with the capitalization provided by the LGU in setting up and managing 8 Galing Pook Awards 2015 the merchandise stores or Pangkabuhayan Centers (PCenters). These stores would sell commodities at a much cheaper price and buy agricultural produce at a higher price than private business owners. The store’s profits are reinvested and part are plowed back as dividends to the individual members. The program is designed so that these PCenters would eventually be registered as cooperatives. Re-greening of the hilly and mountainous areas of the municipality to generate income for the landless was part of the program. The LGU also paved farm-to-market roads to reduce transportation cost and hasten the mobility of agricultural products. It also provided training and orientation on enterprise management, accountability and transparency to Today, PCenters are well established in 21 of the 22 barangays; 16 of these have now been registered as cooperatives with a total membership of 1,591 or over 75% of the target of 2,000 members. They are now federated as the Siayan Pangkabuhayan Federation of Cooperatives, which is already venturing into bulk handling of consumer goods and agribusiness trading. Externally audited financial reports show that the PCenters have generated a combined gross sales as high as PhP12 million in 2014 with a net surplus averaging half million pesos annually. The members have already received annual refunds averaging PhP85.00 for every PhP100 invested. The members also enjoy a 20 to 30% discount from the goods they buy from the PCenters, which is only charging a 10% profit margin. Before the program was implemented, the villagers had to pay between PhP300 to PhP500 for their fare or spend five to eight hours walking to buy consumer goods at the Poblacion or Town Center. Part of the annual surplus generated by the PCenters are contributed to community activities such as child feeding programs and provision of grooming kits. Four of the PCenters are now also engaged in vegetable production with a twin objective of disseminating farming technology to increase farm productivity in the community and as an added investment to their existing enterprise. By empowering its people and providing the support they needed, the Siayan LGU has successfully implemented its social entrepreneurship program and is now well on its way to eradicating poverty.
program with the establishment of small merchandise stores. The municipal LGU has since expanded the program that it now has its own corn milling facilities. Galing Pook Awards 2015 9
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