10 LGUs, 15 others receive gold seal awards for good environmental governance

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Ten local government units and 15 schools and organizations in Negros Occidental were gold award recipients of the Seal of Good Environmental Governance given by the Provincial Environment Management Office in rites held at SMX Convention Center here Friday.

According to Philippine News Agency, the awardees were recognized for their remarkable practices on environmental conservation and protection as part of the observance of the 24th Provincial Environment Week.

The gold recipients in the LGU category were the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, and San Carlos, and the towns of Binalbagan, Pulupandan, E.B. Magalona, and Hinigaran.

The silver recipients among the LGUs were the towns of Hinoba-an and Manapla and the cities of Silay and Sipalay. The bronze recipients in the LGU category were the towns of Isabela and Ilog, and the cities of Escalante and Victorias.

In the schools category, the gold awardees were Ara-al Elementary School, Lag-asan Elementary School, Pagbatangan Elementary School, E.B. Magalona Elementary School, Rita Lovino Elementary School, Esteban Jalandoni National High School, Ramon Torres Dulao National High School, Florentino Galang Sr. National High School, and La Consolacion College-Bacolod.

Schools category silver awardees were Moises Padilla Elementary School, Alicante Elementary School, Cudangdang Elementary School, Dos Hermanas Elementary School, Sto. Rosario Elem. School, Mailum Elementary School, Calapi Elementary School, Iliranan Elementary School, Paloypoy Integrated School, Hinapunan Integrated School, Tal-ot Elementary School, Tapi National High School, E.B. Magalona National High School-Consing Extension, Enriqueta Montilla de Esteban Memorial High School, and Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Alijis.

In the schools category bronze awardees were Punta Salong Elementary School, Tinongan Elementary School, Balabag Elementary School, La Granja Elementary School, Victorias North Elementary School, NOAC Elementary School, Eusebio Lopez Memorial Integrated School, Agripino Alvarez Elementary School, Camalandaan National High School, Sicaba National High School, Andulauan National High School, Negros Occidental National Agro-Industrial School of Industries, Tanza National High School, Philippine Normal University, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation Inc.-Bacolod, and Cabadiangan Elementary School.

Gold awardees in the non-government organizations category were Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc., Global Environment and Nature Ecosystems Society Inc., Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc., and Bacolod City Water District.

For the business establishment and industry categories, the gold recipients were Carmel’s Inn and Restaurant in San Carlos City and the San Miguel Brewery Inc. in Bacolod.

The NGO silver awardee was Share An Opportunity, while industry category silver recipients were San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. and Hinigaran Firecrackers and Pyrotechnics Manufacturers, Dealers and Retailers Association Inc.

Recipients in the business establishment and industry categories (bronze) were Driftwood Beach Resort in Sipalay City and Northern Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. in San Carlos City.

Each of the gold seal awardees received P20,000 cash prize, the silver awardees got P10,000 each, and the bronze awardees had P5,000 each.

San Carlos City and Ara-al Elementary School in La Carlota City were named top awardees in LGU and school categories, respectively, and received an additional P50,000 cash each.   (FREEMAN)