Leyte receives the regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award

By MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO
December 17, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Province of Leyte maintained its hold on the provincial category of the regional Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL) award for two years in a row. Last December 14, 2012 during the Christmas Party of the provincial government of Leyte held at the new Convention Center in the town of Palo, Governor Mimiette S. Bagulaya formally received the P3 Million cash prize and trophy from Director Pedro A. Noval Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Aside from the trophy prepared by DILG national office, Dir. Noval, assisted by DILG-Leyte Provincial Director Artemio B. Caneja also presented Gov. Bagulaya a plaque of recognition from DILG-regional office.

In revealing that Leyte was disqualified for the national award as he was a member of the national board of judges of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, Former Leyte Governor and now Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla encouraged the present administration as well as the incoming one, led by his brother Dominic who was also around, to seek next year the Gold Level award for the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH), which is a key criterion of the GPL.

Both Governor Bagulaya and DOE Secretary Petilla offered the award to the work force of the Province of Leyte, saying the award is a reflection of the commitment and contribution of all personnel in that local government unit ( LGU).

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is considered by the DILG as the “mother of all (its) awards” as its criteria covers LGUs’ Overall Performance Index (OPI) in the agency’s Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS); the SGH (which recognizes transparency, accountability and inclusivity in local administration and development); International or National Awards; and acknowledged innovations. It has three categories: province, city and municipality.

Leyte won over Southern Leyte, while the regional winner for the City Category is Tacloban City, which edged out Ormoc City and Maasin. No municipality in the region passed the statistical standard for the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi.