The News Today Online

Calinog, Guimbal made it again

For the third straight year, the municipalities of Calinog and Guimbal topped the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran search for the cleanest and greenest municipalities in the Province.

Calinog and Guimbal were adjudged as champions in categories A and B, respectively, and will represent Iloilo in the regional search. Calinog won the national award in 2000 and 2001.

The Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran was first conceptualized in 1997 which aims to preserve and improve our environment. Presidential Memorandum Order No. 187 dated September 10, 1993, called for a search for the cleanest and greenest local government units to generate multi-sectoral advocacy, recognition and support towards a clean and green environment that is fit for human existence and ultimately rehabilitate and sustain the integrity of the environment.

The national government suspended the national search for this year. However, Western Visayas officials decided to continue the program because of its favorable impact on the environment and community mobilization efforts.

In fact, Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr. has a continuing parallel program dubbed as Project Cleaning and Greening which was launched in 2002 chaired by the province's First Lady Myrna C. Tupas.

The project was conceived to encourage all local executives to make cleanliness and environmental awareness a continuing concern.

Ms. Marylou B. Sumbing, Team leader for this year’s Search, lauded the efforts made by all the municipalities to maintain cleanliness and beautification, greening of their countrysides and their efforts towards an effective solid waste management. She further added that those who won in this year’s search deserved this accolade because they have made 'clean and green' as their way of life.

(Gina H. Celebria)