Cagayan de Oro City—Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday received the Gawad Parangal Award for Most Outstanding City Mayor in the implementation of social service programs for the third time in 3 consecutive years but stressed that all efforts are being done with passion, dedication and commitment, not because of the awards.

The mayor said his Hall of Fame Award would not have been made possible without the Lord’s guidance and protection and the commitment, dedication and support of all city government officials and employees specially the City Social Welfare and Development Office under Francisco Barredo.

“We have a lot more going in Zamboanga in terms of social welfare programs and social services but all of these are being done with passion, dedication and commitment—not because of the awards, recognitions or citations, for one’s value in life is not determined by accolades or worldly success”, Mayor Lobregat said in his speech during the program graced by no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Pryce Plaza Hotel here.  “One’s worth as human being resides in our willingness to gladly extend ourselves in service to our fellowmen”, he emphasized.

The award was bestowed on Mayor Lobregat by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines Inc. (ALSWDOPI) headed by Ma. Teresa Mariano and the formal conferment coincided with the opening program for of the 14th National Social Welfare and Development Forum.

“I humbly accept this award not only for myself but for the over 800,000 Zamboangueños whom I represent and many of whom are recipients of our social welfare and development programs”, the mayor, the only Hall of Famer in the list of 2010 Gawad Parangal Awardees. He said “last year, I was bestowed the same honor and little did I know that I would be awarded again this year”. 

On behalf of his fellow awardees, Mayor Lobregat thanked the ALSWDOPI for the honor and recognition conferred on them. “We are honored, very appreciative and humbled by it”.

In his response, the Zamboanga mayor cited some significant social welfare and development programs which he said “encompass all aspects and transcend race, color and religion. It is geared to address the many dimensions of human development with the ultimate goal of alleviating the plight of thousands of Zamboangueños living below the poverty line.”

Through sound fiscal management, the city government of Zamboanga has been able to strike an equitable balance between implementation of projects and the uninterrupted delivery of basic social services. “And because we prioritize the need to improve the condition of the disadvantaged and marginalized sectors, since 2008, in terms of expense classification, social services get 35-38 percent— the biggest chunk of our budget”, the mayor said to the wide applause of the audience.

Lobregat is cited for his “excellent support to the implementation of social welfare and development programs in the locality”.

Implementation of Social Services takes the biggest slice in the city’s budget since 2007 allowing the city government to undertake varied and numerous social welfare programs for the well being of the people specially the indigent sector.

The selection of outstanding local government chief executives by the ALSWDOPI takes into consideration how the nominated official projected or manifested his virtues in civic consciousness, vision, leadership/ innovativeness, love and concern for family and community and more importantly his dynamism and dedication as a leader.  

Members of the City Council such as Councilors Rey Candido, Rudy Lim, Nonong Guingona, Abdurahman Nuno, Lilia Nuno, Jimmy Cabato, Percival Ramos, Luis Biel III, Rogelio Valesco Jr., Myra Abubakar and Joefel de las Penas together with the department heads attended the awarding rites here to show support and to share in Lobregat’s special moment.

The other awardees this year are Olongapo City Mayor for Luzon (Outstanding city mayor); Plaridel, Bulacan Mayor Anastacia Vistan and Buenavista, Quezon Mayor Mari “Medy” Rivera for Luzon and New Lucena, Ilo-ilo Mayor Liecel Seville and Oton, Ilo-ilo Mayor Vicente Flores for Visayas (Most Outstanding Municipal Mayor); Most outstanding City social welfare officer Genia Eclarino of Olongapo City and Most Outstanding Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer—Antonio Calatrava of Quezon (Luzon) and Nina Joy Tanada of Oton, Ilo-ilo (Visayas).

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano welcomed the guests, awardees and participants to the forum.

The selection of the Gawad Parangal Awardees was done by a committee formed by the ALSWDOPI, whose members personally visited the areas that vied for the Hall of Fame to validate and evaluate the entries.  (Sheila Covarrubias)