TACLOBAN CITY- Counting its blessings, year 2017 has been fruitful for resilient Tacloban which has just risen from the 2013 devastation brought by super typhoon ‘Yolanda.’
Under the administration of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, the Tacloban city government has garnered several awards and recognitions locally and nationally from various organizations and government agencies.
These awards, indeed, are testaments how effective and efficient the administration of Mayor Romualdez who assumed the post in 2016.
The national awards garnered by the city government and its different offices in 2017 are the following: The City Tourism Office (CTO) was the grand champion of the best float competition showcasing its Sta Cruzan de Mayo float during the Aliwan Fiesta 2017(float competition) held April 23, 2017 at Star City, Roxas Blvd. and the best booth award during the 28th Philippine Travel Mart held Sept. 1-3 at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
As a highly urbanized city (HUC), Tacloban got the 1st place as the most improved local government units in the HUC category in terms of tax collection during the 5th Regional Competitiveness Summit held August 16, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) CCP Complex, Pasay City.
For the month of October alone, Tacloban City got two awards: as a finalist to the 2017 Most Business Friendly LGU Award by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, city level category and for having the country’s best cooperative office.
The Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) garnered awards during the 116th Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Service Anniversary held on August 22, 2017 at the Police Regional 8, Camp Ruperto Kangleon Palo, Leyte.
TCPO got the “best city police office award” for outstanding police administration and operations in Eastern Visayas; “best police strategy management unit” for its service and dedication, visionary guidance and stellar accomplishments in the effective execution of the PNP P.A.T.R.O.L Plan 2010 and “ best senior police non-commissioner officers for operations” received by SPO1 Anthony Amora.
Also, the TCPO also got several awards during the July 31, 2017 Police Community Relations (PCR) culmination program: ‘outstanding city police office in community relations and “outstanding junior police”
The city was among awarded the 2017 seal of good of local governance award by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) also declared Tacloban City as a drug-cleared city, the first HUC in the country to be named as such.
And among the most promising services to rescue human victims, the Tacloban Rescue Unit (TACRU) got the 1st Place Gawad Kalasag Award during the 19th Gawad Kalasag Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian assistance for 2017 for being the Best government emergency response management services (basic search and rescue) category given by the Office of Civil Defense Dec. 4, 2017.
Meanwhile, giving priority attention to a child-friendly environment assuring that all children of Tacloban enjoy their rights for survival, protection and participation, Tacloban City was awarded as the national finalist to the 2016 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities/Cities given December 12, 2017 at Malacañang Palace.
During the 9th HUC anniversary held December 18, 2017 at the City Hall lobby, Mayor Romualdez congratulated and thanked all department heads and their respective personnel for bringing pride and honor to the city.
(GAY B. GASPAY, TISAT/KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM)
