Borongan, Cabucgayan adjuged 2006 Best Sanggunian Bayans of Eastern Visayas

By MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO
November 2, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Borongan, Eastern Samar won as Best Sangguniang Bayan for 1st-3rd class municipalities in the region, while Cabucgayan, Biliran topped the same awards for 4th – 6th class municipalities, to cap the sixth year of the 2006 Search for the Most Outstanding Sangguniang Bayan Awards in ceremonies held at the Kanhuraw Convention Center in Tacloban City on October 27, 2006.

Borongan, Eastern Samar blocked Catarman, Northern Samar’s bid for a three-peat by topping the category for 1st to 3rd class municipalities this year.

Cabucgayan, Biliran won the title vacated by Silago, Southern Leyte, which was honored this year with the Hall of Fame Award for winning its category in three (3) consecutive years, from 2003 to 2005. 

DILG Regional Director William C. Paler, Leyte 1st District Rep. Remedios L. Petilla and Philippine Councilors League-EV Chair Wilson Uy presented the awards, which was the highlight of the PCL Regional Convention.

DILG-08 in partnership with PCL-EV Chapter launched the annual search in 2000 to give due recognition to Sangguniang Bayans that have distinguished themselves in the performance of their duties and functions.  Also involved in the search are DBM, DSWD and DA.

In his message, Director Paler announced that by virtue of DILG Memorandum Circular 2006-123, a nationwide Local Legislative Awards will be launched next year by DILG and PCL that will involve all local Sangguniang Bayans and Sangguniang Panlungsods in the country.

Director Paler likewise noted with pride that the criteria for the nationwide search are an exact takeoff of its own OSB awards.

Other regional awardees were the SBs of Abuyog, Leyte (2nd); Catarman, Northern Samar (3rd) and Catbalogan, Samar (4th) for the 1st to 3rd Class Municipalities;

SBs of Balangiga, Eastern Samar (2nd); San Juan, Southern Leyte (3rd); Inopacan, Leyte (4th); Pambujan, Northern Samar (5th); Motiong, Samar (6th) for 4th to 6th class municipalities.

The awards ceremony was the culmination of a thorough screening of top-performing Sangguniang Bayans by province and validation by an inter-agency Regional Evaluation Team headed by ARD Atty. Aida Z. Laruda of DILG.

DILG RO-8 Division Chiefs, Provincial Directors, and MLGOOs of the ten finalists and regional office personnel were also present in the awarding.

LGOO V Jenna Negros, OSB Program Manager said the SB of Silago, Southern Leyte and the top regional winners each received Plaques of Recognition courtesy of DILG and P10,000 cash prize courtesy of PCL.

Special Certificates of Appreciation were given to SB Secretaries in acknowledgement of their invaluable assistance to their respective SBs.

Likewise, Certificates of Special Recognition were awarded to the SBs of Borongan, Eastern Samar and Cabucgayan, Biliran for showing the most systematic records-keeping of legislative documents; and the SBs of Borongan, Eastern Samar and Balangiga, Eastern Samar for holding sessions on time per approved SB Internal Rules of Procedures.

A Plaque of Recognition was given to SB Member Edwin Masbang of Cabucgayan, Biliran as the Regional Awardee for having sponsored 88% of the total number of ordinances enacted by his Sangguniang Bayan.