City Hall department heads are being requested to submit to the city council programs on innovations and excellence in local governance that can qualify for the “Galing Pook” awards.

Vice mayor Daniel Fariñas said the submission of the programs will be used as basis by the city council in extending support.
 
“Aside from the much needed support, the city government is modest enough as it does not feel the need to join in the annual search which in the long run is depriving other local government units to learn and adopt from our good practices,” Fariñas said. 

He said that the city government has many local governance programs that yield positive results and promote people’s participation and empowerment that could pass through the rigorous screening process established to win the coveted award, if only the proper motivation and support from the LGU is gained. 

Assuming that Baguio has one program conferred by the Galing Pook Awards Foundation, it shall serve as an avenue for all LGUs to showcase their good local governance practices that could inspire and challenge other LGUs to do better. 

The Galing Pook Awards Foundation is currently accepting nominations for the 2010 awards. The deadline of submission is on July 30. 

The Galing Pook Awards was launched on Oct. 21, 1993 as a pioneering program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by the local government units.

LGU finalists with outstanding initiatives are carefully selected and winners are recognized in a very prestigious awards ceremony. The award is conferred by the President.

The awardees of the Galing Pook are chosen from a national search of local governance programs, evaluated through a multi-level 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. 

Winning programs become models of good governance promoted for adoption in other communities.