Palace honors 10 LGUs for fighting hunger

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday honored 10 local government units (LGUs) that implemented exceptional programs intended to eradicate hunger.

Named winners in the first “Walang Gutom Awards” were the villages of Commonwealth in Quezon City and Naggasican in Santiago City, Isabela; the municipalities of Asuncion in Davao del Norte, Palompon in Leyte and Bacnotan in La Union; the cities of Bago and Cadiz in Negros Occidental, Kidapawan in Cotabato and Mati in Davao Oriental, and the province of Biliran.

The award was launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in coordination with the Galing Pook Foundation.

Seventeen LGUs were initially selected as finalists, but only 10 were given the award.

The winners each received P2 million worth of sustainable livelihood program funds while the finalists were given P1 million.

During the awarding ceremony at Malacañang, Marcos lauded 101 LGUs that submitted entries to the program. He described them as  champions of walang gutom.

“I hope you will continue to sustain or improve your noteworthy programs,” Marcos said as he expressed hope that the recognition would inspire other LGUs to emulate the initiatives of the awardees.