By Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental has reclaimed the distinction of being the Best Performing Province of Region 6 (Western Visayas).
The award was bestowed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the 2018 Search for Excellence in Local Governance Awards held at the Diversion 21 Hotel in Iloilo City on Wednesday.
Ma. Lina Sanogal, provincial planning and development officer said Thursday the award is a “nice welcome” for Negros Occidental after reintegrating with the region late last year.
“We skipped the Excell Awards in the two years we were under the Negros Island Region (NIR). Before that, we have already been elevated to the Hall of Fame as Best Performing Province,” she added.
In August last year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 38, revoking the creation of the NIR for lack of funds.
With the abolition of NIR, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental reverted to Western Visayas and Central Visayas, respectively.
Sanogal, who joined Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. in receiving the award from DILG Undersecretary for Operations Epimaco Densing III and Regional Director Anthony Nuyda, said the award is a recognition of the continued excellent governance being practiced by the Negros Occidental provincial government.
“It is a fitting tribute to Governor Marañon’s various accomplishments as he finishes his term in mid-2019,” Sanogal further said.
Marañon, who is in his third and last term as governor, is no longer seeking an elective post in the May 2019 elections.
In the Best Performing Province category, Capiz was awarded first runner-up, and Antique, second runner-up.
Negros Occidental was also the champion in Excellence in Economic Governance and Excellence in Environmental Governance, and second runner-up in Excellence in Local Legislation.
The Best Performing Province award came with a cash prize of PHP20,000 while each of the special awards, PHP10,000.
Other winners from Negros Occidental were the Municipality of Binalbagan which was second runner-up for Best Performing Municipality (1st to 3rd Class) and Bago City, also second runner-up as Best Performing City.
In the special awards, the champions also include Binalbagan — Excellence in Social Governance; Bago City — Excellence in Economic Governance and Most Innovative Best Practice; and San Carlos City — Excellence in Environmental Governance and Excellence in Local Legislation.
The “Pagdayaw” or the Excell Awards is an annual tradition of recognizing the commendable performance and novelty of the local government units (LGUs) and the DILG personnel towards excellence in local governance.
It recognizes the best managed LGUs in the region, showcasing their achievements in Administrative Governance, Social Governance, Economic Governance, Environmental Governance, and Local Legislation.
