The province of Davao Oriental was abuzz with excitement with its historic win in the prestigious 2023 Galing Pook Award for its outstanding and innovative local governance program Happy Home, a halfway house and processing center for former rebels.

Governor Niño Sotero L. Uy, Jr. received the coveted award on October 12, 2023 in Manila, following his successful panel presentation and interview a day before, wherein he aced the extensive and rigorous evaluation process with a top-caliber panel composed of national executives and former cabinet secretaries.

Davao Oriental’s first-ever Galing Pook Award win was a significant moment for the province. However, Governor Uy chose to shine the spotlight on the hardworking partners behind the program who made the province a peaceful place to live.

He especially dedicated the award to the late Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, who initiated the program in April 2013. He said that the late Governor’s legacy served as an inspiration for all those who continue to work in sustaining the peace. The entire province was overjoyed and lauded the efforts of Governor Uy for giving justice to the program and honoring the legacy of Gov. Malanyaon whose dedication to peace and development was unwavering.

The award recognized the Happy Home program which has been changing the lives of former rebels and giving them a new lease on life for the past ten years of the program’s existence.

“This award is a testament to Governor Malanyaon and the province’s unwavering commitment to our people to sustainable development, peace, and progress,” he said.

Gov. Uy said his administration remains dedicated to honoring the memory of Governor Malanyaon by preserving and building upon the progress achieved in the realm of peace and order. This will be done by engaging all stakeholders dedicated to peace in the execution of development initiatives. “Let us continue to uphold the legacy of peace and enhance it through strategic partnerships and a coordinated approach,” he said.

𝙂𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙋𝙊𝙊𝙆

Already in its 30th year, the Galing Pook Award is the most prestigious recognition of excellence in local governance, and winning it was a testament to the awardees’ dedication to improving the lives of its citizens.

Representing President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos recognized top local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) for promoting innovation and exemplifying leadership for better public service delivery and conferred to them the coveted 2023 Galing Pook Award.
This year’s ten winners are:

• Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte: Seal of Health Governance;
• Davao Oriental Province: Happy Home;
• General Santos City: Shari’a Atas Bitiara;
• Makati City: Virtual Queuing Management System for Health Centers;
• Iloilo Province: Mobilizing Communities through People-Centered Zero Open Defecation Movement Towards Sustainable Sanitation;
• Pasig City: Prehospital Care and Emergency Medical Services Medical Control Program;
• Bayawan City, Negros Oriental: Fish From The Mountains: Bayawan Inland Aquaculture;
• Bataan Province: 1Bataan Seal of Healthy Barangay;
• Barangay Taloot, Argao, Cebu: Barangay Taloot Community-Based Integrated Approach; and
• Quezon City: iRISE UP (Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population).
  Aside from the LGUs, also awarded were private organizations under the Citizenship Award Category. Inlcuded in the top ten finalists is the Mati Moms from the City of Mati, Davao Oriental. By Provincial Information Office