THE GALING POOK AWARDS

About the Award

The Galing Pook Awards was launched in October 21, 1993 as a pioneering program that
searches and recognizes innovative practices by local government units. LGU finalists with
outstanding initiatives are carefully selected and winners are recognized in a very
prestigious awarding ceremony.

The awardees of the Galing Pook are chosen from a national search of local governance
programs, evaluated through a multilevel rigorous screening process based on positive
results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, innovation,
transferability and sustainability, and efficiency of program service delivery.

Beyond the awards, winning programs become models of good governance promoted for
adoption in other communities. They provide useful insights and strategies to find innovative
solutions to common problems. More importantly, they affirm the community and the local
government’s commitment to good governance.

For the past 25 years, more than 319 programs from at least 180 local governments/local
government alliances were awarded the Galing Pook. These awardees become very
important advocates in inspiring other local governments to introduce innovative practices
and provide a fertile environment for the replication of successful reforms.

Eligibility Criteria
For your program to be considered for the Galing Pook Awards, it must meet the following
minimum requirements:

 It must have involved or engaged processes within a local government unit (barangay,
municipality, city, or province) even if the program might have been initiated (either
independently or jointly) by an NGO, CSO and/or an LGU.
 It must have been in operation for at least one (1) year before the deadline of
submission.
 It must have verifiable and significant results.
Selection Criteria

Positive Results and Impact 30%

Promotion of People’s Participation and Empowerment 30%

Innovation 15%

Transferability and Sustainability 15%

Efficiency of Program Service Delivery 10%

TOTAL 100%

THE GALING POOK FOUNDATION

History
Galing Pook traces its beginnings in 1993 when the first Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook
was held. The Awards Program was a joint initiative of the Local Government Academy–
Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Ford Foundation, and other individual
advocates of good governance from the academe, civil society and the government.

The Asian Institute of Management administered the awards program until 2000. Earlier in
1998, the Galing Pook Foundation was formally established as a private awards-giving body
to sustain the Awards program.

In its 25 years of existence, Galing Pook has become a leading resource institution
continuously promoting innovation and excellence in local governance. It proactively
searches and recognizes best local government practices and facilitates their adoption in
more communities in the country.

Vision
The leading resource institution that promotes innovation, sustainability, citizen
empowerment and excellence in local governance
 Mission
 Promote excellence in local governance through recognition, sharing of information and
support of efforts to replicate best practices at the local level
 Encourage partnership among civil society organizations, private sector, and government
agencies at the local, national and global levels to improve the quality of life
Goals
 Search, select, and recognize outstanding programs of local government units
 Help in the capacity building of local government units
 Facilitate the replication of winning programs
 Act as resource institution on innovative local government programs
Values
 Primacy of local governance for the promotion of sustainable development
 Passion, integrity, competence, transparency and accountability
 Willingness to learn and to share learning to others
 Premium on innovation

Board of Trustees
Rafael Coscolluela, Chairperson. Former Governor, Negros Occidental
Evelyn Uy, Vice-Chairperson. Former Mayor, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte
Ronald Mendoza, Corporate Secretary. Dean, Ateneo School of Government
Victor Gerardo Bulatao, Treasurer. Chairman, LANDBANK Countryside Development
Foundation, Inc.
Marivic Belena, Trustee. Former Mayor, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
Edna Estifania Co, Trustee. Director, Centre International de Formation des Autorites et
Leaders (CIFAL Philippines)
Lilian De Leon, Trustee. Former Executive Director, League of Municipalities of the
Philippines
Maria Lourdes Fernando, Trustee. Former Mayor, Marikina City
Elmer Soriano, Trustee. Managing Director, Civika Asian Development Academy
Secretariat
Eddie Dorotan, Executive Director
Lorenzo Ubalde, Program Officer
Adrian Adove, Program Officer
Genevive Gabion, Finance Officer
Monette Montemayor, Program Assistant
Christine Beltran, Administrative and Finance Assistant
Marwin Gotis, Administrative Assistant
10 outstanding LGUs recognized at 25th Galing Pook Awards

October 12, 2018

FOUR trend-setting municipalities and six outstanding cities from across the country received
the Galing Pook Awards from Vice President Leni Robredo in fitting ceremonies on Thursday,
October 11.

The Municipality of Del Carmen in Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte, as well as Navotas City,
were first-time winners of the prestigious awards for exemplary local governance.

Del Carmen, home of the second largest mangrove forest in Mindanao, was recognized for its social
tourism program transforming mangrove cutters into fisherfolk, and illegal fisherfolk into boat guides.

Navotas, meantime, implemented various early childhood education and health initiatives, including
Kindergarten on Wheels, a micronutrient supplementation program, and supplemental feeding program.
This resulted in an increased number of enrolled students and decreased rate of under-nutrition among
young children in the city.

Repeat winners this year included the municipalities of Bindoy, Negros Oriental; Loboc, Bohol; and San
Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

Cagayan de Oro City, Iloilo City, Naga City, Tagum City and Valenzuela City round up the top ten local
government units (LGUs).

The winners were involved in a wide variety of innovative programs covering land tenure, environmental
conservation, cultural heritage preservation, literacy and education, healthcare, and community safety and
security.

As keynote speaker, Robredo also conferred the 4th Jesse Robredo Leadership Award for effective,
empowering and ethical leadership of a local government executive to Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal.

Rosal began his public service as a barangay captain before serving Legazpi City in various capacities. He
is now on his fifth term as mayor, with a slew of public service awards including the Department of
Interior and Local Government Seal of Good Local Governance for three consecutive years.

Now on its 25th year, the Galing Pook Awards annually selects the best local governance practices and
shares information on these beneficial programs for replication. The awards have cited some 319
programs from at least 200 LGUs over the years, including this year's winners, judging them on their
positive results and impact, their empowerment of the people, transferability and sustainability,
innovation, and efficiency of their program service delivery.
The 10 awardees are (in alphabetical order):

1. Bindoy, Negros Oriental - Ridge to Reef (R2R) Program

2. Cagayan de Oro City - “No Vote, Ibot” No More: Ending the Political Bondage in Resettlement Areas
by Providing Security of Tenure

3. Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte - Siargao It Up! Mangrove Management and Social Tourism Program

4. Iloilo City - Iloilo-Batiano River Development Project

5. Loboc, Bohol - Reviving the Musical Tradition and Heritage by Empowering People through the
Loboc Music Program

6. Naga City - Barangay eSkwela and Barangay Literacy Worker Program

7. Navotas City - ACHIEVE: Accessible, Holistic and Inclusive Education

8. San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte - Preserving Local Cultural Heritage

9. Tagum City, Davao del Norte - Tagumpay Works Program

10. Valenzuela City - Tayo Na Mapayapang Valenzuela: Tuloy-tuloy ang Asenso! The Valenzuela City
Comprehensive Safety and Security Program

(PR)

Reference:

http://www.galingpook.org/awards

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1768834