Tacloban City rack up various awards in 2017

CEBU, Philippines — 2017 has been a year of awards for Tacloban City—affirming its being in the hands of an outstanding leader and its inherent resiliency after the Yolanda devastation in 2013.

Under the leadership of Mayor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez, Tacloban City received the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance Award from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The award was a testament that the Romualdez administration had complied with the standards of excellent governance or management of the city.

On December 4, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 8 declared Tacloban City as drug-free, the first highly urbanized city (HUC) in the entire Visayas to be given the distinction of being able to pass the 14 parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

PDEA-8 Director Edgar Jubay gave the declaration to Mayor Romualdez, who credited the achievement to the hard work of the PDEA-8 with the city government’s New Beginnings Rehabilitation Program, carried out in the city’s 138 barangays.

On August 16, during the 5th Regional Competitiveness Summit held at the PICC-CPP Complex in Pasay City, Tacloban City won 1st place for the most improved LGU award—highly urbanized city (HUC) category—in terms of tax collection, among 33 HUCs in the country.

Mayor Romualdez had acknowledged also her officials and department heads, for their excellent performances that collectively led to Tacloban’s recognition as an outstanding HUC in the country. During the 9th HUC Anniversary held last December 18, at the City Hall lobby, the mayor congratulated and thanked all departments heads who brought pride and honor to the Tacloban City government. “You truly inspired us to do better,” she told them.

Tacloban City received two awards last October: as finalist to the 2017 Most Business-Friendly LGU Award by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (city level category); and the National Best Performing LGU’s Cooperative Development Office (HUC category), which was already its second award in a row, during the Gawad Parangal 2017 in Makati City.

On December 12, Tacloban was awarded in Malacañang the national finalist honors to the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities/Cities, confirming that the city has been laying out an environment that ensures the children’s rights for survival, protection and participation in social activities.

On December 4, the Office of Civil Defense cited Tacloban as having the best search and rescue unit during disasters. The Tacloban Rescue Unit (TACRU) got 1st place Gawad Kalasag Award during the 19th GK Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance for 2017.

The city’s peace and order situation has been exemplary also. The Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) won last August 22 the 2017 Best City Police Office Award for outstanding administration and operations in Eastern Visayas, as it maintains effective partnership with the city government.

On tourism drive, the Tacloban City Tourism Office’s entry—of Santacruzan de Mayo—to the Aliwan Fiesta 2017 in Manila last April 23, won the Grand Champion plum for the best float category competition, besides getting the Best Booth Award during the 28th Philippine Travel Mart at Pasay City last September 1 to 3.