"We feel that excellence in governance and implementation of projects should be acknowledged," said Antique Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar Perez, who chairs RDC VI.
The search was patterned after the nationwide Galing Pook Awards that recognizes best practices.
Perez was elated about the RDC VI’s feat of being the first region to hold such a prestigious recognition for best performing public sector groups.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor graced the awarding ceremonies and commended the people behind the search.
Defensor extended President Arroyo’s congratulations to RDC VI for being the "best in governance."
Socio-economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Romulo Neri, together with Dr. Herwig Mayer, GTZ Decentralization Program manager, led the ribbon-cutting formally opening the event, which included exhibits of the projects vying for the awards.
Other officials who graced the event were Capiz Gov. Vicente Bermejo, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, acting RDC VI vice chairman Arturo Valero, RDC VI co-chairman Wilfredo Homicillada, and Undersecretaries Raphael Coscolluela and Salvador Sarabia.
Perez took pride in the Antique Country Program for Children, which was adjudged as the second Best Public Sector Project in the region.
The following were the winners among the regional line agencies: first place, Operation Dikit and Tax Mapping or Tax Compliance Verification Drive of the Bureau of Internal Revenue VI; second place, TB-DOTS best practices collection of the Department of Health VI; and third place, KALAHI-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development VI.
Among the local government units, the first prize went to Capiz’ Drug Management Reforms (Parallel Drug Importation), and the second prize to Antique’s Country Program for Children.
Among the cities, the establishment of diwal sanctuaries through transportation in Roxas City waters bagged the first prize, while the development of Sipalay City’s tourism industry got the second prize.
In the state universities and colleges’ category, the first placer was the development of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas’ Health Service Unit-Miag-ao as a primary care hospital; second placer, the Food-Always-in-the-Home (FAITH) Garden Program of the Negros State College of Agriculture; and third placer, the dyMT community radio of the Aklan State University.
Forty-five entries were chosen from hundreds of nominations, which were later pared down to 25.
Eighteen entries were viewed by the judges as potential winners and were subjected to field evaluations.
The remaining 15 projects, as finalists, received certificates of recognition from RDC VI.
"This is our final answer to all the political noise and criticisms in imperial Manila. Our region is thriving very well because we are guided by President Arroyo’s 10-point agenda and inspired by her total support for countryside development," Perez said.
"Our President believes in and practices decentralization and when she says that the RDCs are her true partners in development, we are ready, willing and able to answer her call," she added.