The Galing Pook Awards recognize innovation and excellence in local governance, promoting sustainability, citizen empowerment, and partnerships among various sectors. The program, initiated in 1993, aims to encourage best practices at the local level and improve quality of life through recognition and information sharing (p. 1).
In 2015, Galing Pook received 153 applications, with municipalities being the most represented category. Luzon had the highest representation among regions. The applications were judged based on criteria like impact, innovation, and sustainability. Only 16 finalists were selected from the 38 that underwent site validation (p. 2).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government congratulated the awardees for their excellent governance, emphasizing the importance of citizen empowerment and collaboration. The Galing Pook Foundation expressed gratitude to sponsors and highlighted the significance of recognizing both local government programs and civil society initiatives (p. 3-4).