Two Sarangani finalists in Gawad Galing Pook

ALABEL, Sarangani (February 18, 2008) – Sarangani's outstanding local governance programs on farm learning and indigenous people are finalists in the Galing Pook Awards.

Awarding ceremonies are scheduled in Malacañang on February 28 with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

One of the finalists is Lamlunay Research and Learning Center (LRLC) of Maitum, a 108-hectare facility that maintains nurseries of fruit trees and other crops and distributes seedlings to barangays.

LRLC demo farms use sloping agricultural land technology. Diversified farming systems are also maintained in the center. Through LRLC, a brainchild of the late Mayor George Yabes, the average family income in barangay Upo has continuously increased from P4,000 in 2004 to P7,000 in 2005, and to P10,000 in 2006.

The other finalist is Gov. Migs Dominguez' Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP). The program worked for the acquisition of IP tenurial instruments in ancestral domains, restoration of the cultural heritage and identity of Sarangani IPs.

The program increased participation of IPs in development, and the provision of socio-economic and environmental services in IP communities.

LRLC and IPDP were picked as among the 19 finalists that were evaluated last year.
It is the municipality of Maitum's third straight year in the Gawad Galing Pook.

In 2005, the municipality of Maitum received from Galing Pook the Special Citation on Child Rights Responsive Local Governance. The citation, given in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund, is awarded to local government units (LGUs) demonstrating exemplary initiatives that respond to child rights concerns.

In 2006, Galing Pook conferred Maitum, together with nine other LGUs nationwide, the Special Citation on Local Capacity Innovations for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The winning LGUs were selected from previous recipients of the Gawad Galing Pook that demonstrated positive innovative approaches towards achieving any of the eight MDGs.

The Gantimpalang Panglingkod Pook or Gawad Galing Pook was launched in October 21, 1993 as the pioneering awards program on innovation and excellence in local governance.

It was a joint initiative of the Department of Interior and Local Government through its Local Government Academy, the Ford Foundation, and other individual local governance advocates from the academe, civil society, and government.

The winners of the Gawad Galing Pook are chosen every year from a national search of local governance programs sifted through a multi-level rigorous screening process based on the criteria of positive socio-economic and environmental impact, promotion of people's empowerment, transferability and sustainability, efficiency of program service delivery, and creative use of powers provided by the Local Government Code and other decentralization and local autonomy policies. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Note: Details about the Galing Pook Foundation Gawa Galing 2007 Awardees at http://www.galingpook.org/2007finalists.htm