Bohol province, Maribojoc win Galing Pook awards

TAGBILARAN CITY ,Philippines  – The provincial government of Bohol and Maribojoc town, about 14 kms. from here, bagged the prestigious Galing Pook Awards among the top ten finalists, said a press release of the Effective Development Communication (EdCom) of the Governor’s Office.

The victory is the 7th from the Galing Pook Foundation (GPF) for Bohol and the first for Maribojoc town.

President Benigno S. Aquino III personally handed over the awards to Gov. Edgar Chatto and provincial officials in a ceremony at Malacañang last week for Bohol’s Rabies Prevention and Eradication Program, Edcom said.

Maribojoc town Mayor Leoncio Evasco received the award from the president in separate ceremony to award for LGU-led cadastral survey project. Maribojoc was the first LGU-led participant in the Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP) 2 of the DENR.

The program has resulted to the proper land valuation, an increase in the real tax property collection, security of the tenurial status of title holders and reduction of incidents of land grabbing.

Bohol provincial government clinched three similar awards during the incumbencies of then governor and now Rep. Rene L. Relampagos (1st district) and another three during former governor and now Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd district).

This year’s GP award was the second for the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) initiatives led by Dr. Stella Marie Lapez. The first one was the Barangay Livestock Assistance (BALA) program sometime in 2000 for sustainable agriculture through improvement of livestock program and tapping volunteers called barangay livestock aides (Bala), who are still active today in the barangays.

In receiving the award from Aquino, Chatto was joined by Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim, Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II, Provincial Board Member Abeleon Damalerio, Provincial Veterinarian Lapez, Provincial Health Officer Reymoses Cabagnot, PIA’s Rey Anthony Chiu, EdCom head Augustus Escobia and other members of the Bohol Rabies Prevention and Elimination Council.

The top ten awardees were chosen from among 137 nominees based on “innovation, positive results, transferability and sustainability, people’s participation, and efficiency in program service delivery in this annual search for the best governance programs nationwide,” said Edcom.

Rafael Coscuellela headed the GP national selection committee. Also present during the awarding rites were DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, GP Foundation chair Nieves Confessor, LandBank president and CEO Gilda Pico and DBP senior vice president Crescenciana Bundoc.