LGUs' pandemic programs ‘primary standards’ in 2021 Galing Pook Awards

The best practices of local government units in their pandemic response emerged as among the primary standards in choosing this year's 2021 Galing Pook Awards.

In a statement, Former Interior Secretary and Galing Pook Foundation chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento said the awards will honor services of LGUs to their constituents who are grappling with the pandemic.

Galing Pook Awards went to a hiatus in pandemic-hit year 2020 but was relaunched in February 2021 to recognize LGUs that showed "adaptiveness, innovation, resiliency, and excellence."

Despite the hiatus, the awards received 200 nominations, the highest since it started in 1993. The application was closed last June 30 while the awarding ceremony was set in October.

Meanwhile, Sarmiento recognized the role of LGUs in the pandemic, which  helped in implementing the national government's policies.

“Our nation’s success and failure in dealing with the pandemic depends largely on the ability and inability of our LGUs to properly respond to various challenges that come with the present health crisis. I’ve seen so many outstanding innovations that made a difference to our people,” Sarmiento said.

The awarding ceremony will be held in October which also marks the 30th year of  enactment of the Local Government Code.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News