QC bags 2 more Galing Pook Awards

Two Quezon City government programs won this year's prestigious Galing Pook awards on outstanding local government units that promote innovation and excellence in local governance.

Quezon City, recognized by the Gating Pook Foundation for its socialized housing program and for having established a pioneering male-focused sexual health care facility, is only one of two LGUs that won the most awards. Quezon City shared such distinction with the Quezon provincial government, which also won two Galing Pook awards.

Quezon City's socialized housing program, as envisioned by Mayor Herbert Bautista, is aimed at creating slum-free communities in the city by building well-organized Bistekville housing projects with multi-purpose facilities for public services such as health and day-care centers. With this development, the upgrading of the living conditions of the poor and removal of urban blight are simultaneously achieved.

Meanwhile, QC pioneered in the establishment of the Klinika Bernardo male sundown social hygiene clinic in order to reach out to more individuals at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, especially those with exposure to male-to-male sexual behaviors.

Mayor Bautista said his administration is seriously considering developing the Klinika Bernardo as the country's premiere place of treatment and referral for people with confirmed cases of STD / HIV / AIDS, as a testimony to the city government's continuing commitment to provide people living with HIV greater access to quality health services.

Quezon City is the only local government in the National Capital Region to win this year's Galing Pook award, which was conferred by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday morning at the EDSA Shangri-la Manila.

Executive Secretary Ochoa, who once served as city administrator of Quezon City. represented President Benigno Aquino III during the occasion.

In his speech, Roxas underscored the vital role of local government units in the delivery of frontline basic services to the communities. With this, the DILG Secretary assured local officials of the national government's continuing support in their effort to provide quality services to their constituents.

"Greater satisfaction and fulfillment can only be achieved if we are able to serve others. Hindi po dapat solo-solo ang lakad," Roxas said.

Meanwhile, President Aquino's speech, read by Executive Secretary Ochoa encourages local government units to provide quality services and pursue programs that will bring about change.

"Ang galing ng isang lingkodbayan ay hindi nasusukat sa haba ng kanyang termino kundi sa kanyang husay sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga programa at pagpapatupad ng makabuluhang pagbabago," Ochoa said.

Mayor Bautista and Vice Mayor Belmonte led city government officials during the awarding ceremonies.

Quezon City was also recognized by the Gating Pook Foundation for effective fiscal management in 2003; for the Molave Youth Home in 200S; for the rehabilitation of the Payatas disposal facility in 2008 and for massive parks development to transform QC into a garden city in 2009.