‘Gov’t supports LGUs’ good governance effort’

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas assured local government units (LGUs) of the national government’s support in their campaign for good governance.

“You are not alone. We cannot have a better tomorrow if we are to work alone,” Roxas told LGU officials at the Galing Pook Awards 2014 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel on Tuesday.

“There’s no greater satisfaction or fulfillment than... to serve the people,” he added.

President Aquino, in his speech read by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, stressed the need for cooperation among national and the local government officials.

“When the national and local governments paddle together, they give their trusts in return,” he said.

Aquino also cited the efforts of the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of the Interior and Local Government to streamline procedures in business and licensing systems in local governments to encourage new investors.

This year’s Galing Pook awardees were the “from arms to farms “ program of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; affordable homes for the urban poor of Quezon City; the Grand Central Terminal of Legazpi City; Dipolog Boulevard of Dipolog City; night market program of Tagum City; Lingap Kalusugan para sa Barangay Program of Quezon; “Linaw Tingin” program of Tarlac; Klinika Bernardo of Quezon City; Clustered Sanitary Landfill Project of South Cotabato; and the two million mangroves in one day or “Two in One”program of Quezon.

Named finalists were the Land Utilization Program for Sustainable Livelihood of Arakeños of Arakan, South Cotabato; re-affirming Ilocano greatness of Ilocos Norte; conservation farming villages of La Libertad, Negros Oriental; health barangay awards of Luba, Abra; high school extension class of Siasi, Sulu; Community Enterprise Development Program-Pangkabuhayan Centers of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte; and Wireless Access for Health Initiative of Tarlac.

Mayor Ramon Piang Sr. of Upi, Maguindanao was accorded the 2nd Jesse Robredo Leadership award.