3 Valenzuela City programs bag Galing Pook 2021 awards

Three programs of Valenzuela City were among the Top 10 Galing Pook awardees this year for innovation in local governance.

The Galing Pook foundation recognized Valenzuela's "Valenzuela Live: The Valenzuela City Streaming School," "Tagalag Fishing Village," and "Paspas Permit" for improving the lives of residents.

Quezon City, Cagayan de Oro, and Agusan del Sur were also among the Top 10 for their "Grow QC: Kasama ka sa pag-unlad, sa pagkain, kabuhayan, at kalusugan food security program,""Health is Worth Fighting For, the CDO Health Journey," and "Upload Sustainable Agri-forestry Development (USAD) convergence program," respectively.

San Juan City's "KALINGAP (Kaagapay, Lingkod, at Gabay sa Pademiya)," the municipality of Alabat's "Coco Sugar: Making the lives of coconut farmers sweeter," and Negros Occidental's "Network of Alliances for Coastal Wetlands Conservation" also made it to the list.

Completing the list was Tagum City's "I'M SEACURe: Integrated management and sustainable environmental approach to coastal and underwater resources."

President Rodrigo Duterte commended the awardees for "rendering public service with competence and effective governance."

"May this recognition fill your hearts with passion for service and leadership," Duterte said in his message to the winners.

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo also extended her gratitude to local governments who stepped up amid the pandemic.

"Habang hindi man lang magkasundo sa quarantine classifications ang mga nasa poder, many local governments are hard at work, rolling out the most innovative and effective solutions to this crisis—mula sa malalim na koordinasyon sa medical community at experts, hanggang sa paggamit ng tech-based solutions para sa contact tracing, at marami pang iba," she said.

"Pagbutihin pa ang trabaho para sa pinaglilingkuran—lalo na para sa mga nasa laylayan. Tumindig para masigurong mawawakasan ang ugat ng patuloy na pagkagutom, kahirapan, at kamatayan ngayong panahon ng pandemya: Bad governance. Sa lahat ng gawaing ito, humugot ng lakas at inspirasyon sa isa’t isa," she added.

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."—Ma. Angelica Garcia/AOL, GMA News