Preparations for 2007 'Gawad' search underway
Roxas City -- Governor Victor A. Tanco, Sr., who is on his second month as new chief provincial executive of Capiz, said the Gawad Pangulo Sa Kapaligiran (GPK) is "a noble program that needs to be continued" even as a local initiative.
This was emphasized by Tanco as he issued August 6 his first ever executive order activating the provincial search committee for the annual search for the cleanest and greenest local government units.
He is also convening the committee together with the municipal mayors of the province's 16 towns on August 17 for a joint meeting at the Hall of Governors of the Provincial Capitol to review the guidelines and criteria of the search and lay down the initial preparations for the activity.
The governor chairs the provincial search committee with Provincial Director Jenny Destua of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as co-chairperson and REACT Philippines as vice chair.
The members are Capiz Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Angel Gilvas, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dionisio Molina, Jr., PIA Provincial Information Manager Jaime Cabag, Jr., Provincial Health Officer Dr. Jarvis Punsalan, Project Development Officer IV Stephen Bediones of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, representative of the Governor's Press Bureau, Executive Director Annie Villaruz of the Gerry Roxas Foundation, and the authorized representative of Kiwanis Club of Roxas City.
Last year, the municipality of Dumarao topped the search in Category A (1st -- 3rd Class Municipalities) while Dao clinched the top spot in Category B (4th -- 6th Class Municipalities).
President Arroyo has underscored the importance of caring for the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources in the moving the Philippines towards a modern status.
"We must build up the environment through forest conservation and expansion, to absorb greenhouse gases warming the world, and to enhance our water resources while preventing flooding, erosion and siltation," the President stressed as she urged all sectors to "work together" to attain a resource-efficient and environmentally sound development.
(PIA)