10 TOCP awardees to get P1.5-M grant each

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Edgardo Angara has pledged to provide the 10 awardees who will be named The Outstanding Councilors of the Philippines (TOCP) with a P1.5-million grant each.

The search is part of Angara’s continuing support for exemplary local leaders who he described as key partners in local governance.

Angara signed a memorandum of agreement with officials of the Junior Chamber International Philippines and the Philippine Councilors League, organizers of the TOCP.

“I believe the TOCP is an effective way of strengthening local governance and (providing incentives to) good local governance,” Angara said.

“If political controversies make it to the news, then more so should the efforts of our local legislators to make public service delivery more effective and responsive,” he added.

On the P1.5-million grant, Angara said, “We do not want to give out just a symbolic award, but rather a prize that will be genuinely instrumental in community development.”

The TOCP, awarded every three years, is now on its third search.

The awardees will be announced in March 2013.

Previous TOCP awardees included Quezon City Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Edwin Piano of Olongapo City, and Roman Melliza of General Santos City.