Miagao, Guimbal grab top honors in 2007 GPK contest
The municipalities of Miagao and Guimbal again grabbed the top honors in the recently concluded Gawad Pangulo Sa Kapaligiran (GPK) in Categories A and B, respectively.
While, Jalaur River, traversing the Poblacion area of Dingle and Calinog, won in the Inland Bodies of Water Category.
Miagao bested 11 other Category A or first to third class municipalities in the province of Iloilo. Guimbal, on the other hand toppled 30 other Category B or fourth to sixth class municipalities. Both municipalities won for the third time in the Provincial Level.
Second to Miagao in Category A is the Municipality of San Joaquin, third is Lambunao, fourth is Sta. Barbara and fifth is Janiuay. In Category B, second to Guimbal is the Municipality of New Lucena, third is Alimodian, fourth is Tubungan and fifth is Dingle.
Criteria for judgment include the absence of eyesores; well-maintained green areas; odor-free and thoroughly clean public markets, slaughterhouses and public toilets; implementation of waste segregation at source; effective and efficient garbage collection and support systems wherein the municipality manifests its implementation of the Clean and Green Program in their municipality, an example is the holding of their own inter-barangay clean and green contests.
Marylou B. Sumbing, Information Officer of the Province of Iloilo and at the same time Team Leader of this year's Provincial Assessment Team, has lauded the active participation of the municipalities and has observed a more improved and effective implementation of the clean and green program through this annual contest.
Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr. has stressed to his constituents in the Province of Iloilo that they should make cleaning and greening a way of life.
Cleaning the surroundings will help in eradicating environmentally-related diseases such as dengue, leptospirosis, gastroenteritis and diarrhea to name a few he continued. The continuous planting of trees and mangroves will help in conserving our environment, provide sanctuaries for our wildlife animals and preserve the natural habitat of our marine life.
For winning the top honors, Miagao and Guimbal will each represent the Province of Iloilo in the Regional Gawad Pangulo Sa Kapaligiran Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Muncipality and Jalaur River will be representing the Province of Iloilo in the Regional Search for Inland Bodies of Water Category. (MBS/PIO-Capitol).