What's Up in Oriental Negros

By JCC
December 3-9 2006 issue – Dumaguete MetroPost

Gov. George P. Arnaiz on Wednesday received the prestigious “Most Outstanding Governor” award during the 2006 Local Government Leadership Awards (LGLA) ceremony held at the Philippine Senate. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. handed the award.

The Award rites coincided with the anniversary of the enactment of the 1991 Local Government Code. The other awardees are Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casuiarra as “Most Outstanding City Mayor” and Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn as “Most Outstanding Municipal Mayor.”

The LFLA recognizes deserving local elected officials who have shown exemplary leadership traits, innovativeness, good governance practices and made substantial contributions in improving the quality of lives of their constituents. There are three categories: Most Outstanding Governor, Most Outstanding City Mayor, and Most Outstanding Municipal Mayor. Awardees receive a plaque of appreciation and Php1000,000.00 cash grant.

Instituted in 2002, through the efforts of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Father of the Local Government Code of 1991, the awards are given by a consortium of government agencies and the Philippines’ top academic institutions. At the forefront of this prestigious award-giving body is the Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) of the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance. This year’s expanded National Selection Committee (NSC) includes distinguished members from the academe, government, business, media and civil society.

The partner institutions forming the awards consortium include De La Salle University-Manila, Development Academy of the Philippines, and the DILG’s Local Government Academy.

In receiving his award, Gov. Arnaiz said he “humbly accepts this award on behalf of the 1.2 Million Oriental Negrenses whose abiding faith in our leadership has inspired us to explore new pathways of development and to move forward with confidence and a firm determination to make a difference in their lives.”

He added that the field of local governance has never failed to excite him. “Everyday offers new challenges and endless opportunities to better the lives of our people. We are fortunate to have been given this privilege to serve and in the process recognized for our efforts,” Arnaiz said.

Among the LGLA’s roster of previous awardees were Bulacan Governor Josefine Dela Caruz, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Iligan City Mayor Franklin Quijano, Conception-Iloilo Mayor Raul Banias (2002); Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., and Pamgil-Laguna Mayor Sergio Manzana (2003).