Outstanding Cebu LGUs to get vans

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol yesterday showed photo of 33-seater coaster van that will be awarded to top performing local government units in the implementation of its expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (eGWEN) Program.

During the Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting attended by mayors and other city and municipal officials, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that the prize will be awarded in August in time of the 443rd founding anniversary of the province.

Garcia said the procurement process is now being done for the first top 20 LGUs.

The eGwen composite team of evaluators is now on its second round of evaluation while the third and final round will be from June to July.

But Rowena Alinsonorin, executive director for integrated development of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) announced yesterday the top 20 LGUs for the first round.

The province is collaborating with the RAFI, government line agencies and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the program.

The top 20 in alphabetical order are Alegria, Argao, Barili, Bogo City, Boljoon, Carcar City, Catmon, Cordova, Dalaguete, Ginatilan, Liloan, Moalboal, Oslob, Poro, Samboan, San Francisco, Tabuelan, Toledo City, Tuburan and Tudela.

Originally, the prize is intended supposedly to LGUs that can organized tour packages in their respective locality but the criteria were later expanded to include the eGwen factor.

“As we bring our tourists there, they would see the surroundings, it is only through the eGwen that we can say that that’s a total tour package. We are expanding the definition of tour package, the eGwen factor must be greatly considered,” Garcia said.

Garcia considered the suggestion of Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy that LGUs that can comply with the requirements anytime could still get the van.

In addition to the E-GWEN competition, Garcia will also award winners of purok system contest, a form of community organization started by the town of San Francisco.

San Francisco is a consistent winner of the E-GWEN program.

In the previous scorecard, Garcia said the contending points of an LGU are deducted if it fails to adopt the purok system.

 Currently, however, LGUs which cannot recommend a purok for the contest will be automatically disqualified from the E-GWEN program, Garcia said. — (FREEMAN)