QC mayor presents latest award at city hall

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. presented yesterday to city hall employees the prestigious "Gawad Galing Pook" award for effective fiscal management given by President Arroyo over the weekend.

Showing the bronze plaque during yesterday’s flagraising ceremony, Belmonte said the award symbolizes the teamwork between the Chief Executive and civil servants, particularly fiscal managers who are responsible for making the city the richest local government unit in the country.

"Effective fiscal management is not only about how to collect money, but also how it is spent," Belmonte said.

The Quezon City government is one of the 10 Gawad Galing Pook awardees for this year. It won in the category of fiscal management.

The annual award is sponsored by the Ford Foundation and other international agencies. The search is undertaken by the Galing Pook Council, the Local Government Academy and the Asian Institute of Management.

At least 135 LGUs participated in this year’s search.

With the latest award, the Quezon City government practically collected all major awards for effective local governance.

Earlier, Belmonte has been cited as the most outstanding city mayor, receiving the Local Government Leadership Award from Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and DILG Secretary Jose Lina Jr.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has also cited Quezon City as the most business friendly city in the country.

Belmonte said President Arroyo, in recognition for the city government’s excellent performance in local governance, has granted his request to grant additional bonuses for city hall employees this year.

"President Arroyo has already granted my request. In a few days you will receive your extra bonuses," he said.