The Negros Occidental provincial government won two and Bago City won three 2024 Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL) Awards given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government at the Pagdayaw 2024 held in Iloilo City on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
The Negros Occidental provincial government was the champion for Environmental Management for the “Negros Occidental Ramsar Wetlands Conservation Program”, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Wednesday.
It was also the champion for Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts for the “Negros Trade Fair: A success story of Negrenses’ rich history, culture and resilience”, he added.
Bago City’s entry dubbed “Elevating Information, Education, and Communication: Mobile Info Van on the Go” won the Excellence in Disaster Preparedness award.
Bago also won the Excellence in Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts award for its “Booming GREEN AgriTourism: Cultivating a Sustainable Future for Bago City Tourism”.
Another award bagged by the city was for Excellence in Youth Development for its “Leadership Communities (LeadCom) Bago” entry.
Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Dr. Merijene Ortizo, Senior Tourism Operations Officer Mae Ann Furtos and Local Youth Development Officer Allan Señeres, along with Bago City Local Government Operations Officer VI Mia Asuncion Gatilogo, received the awards.
Bago City received a plaque, certificate and a cash prize of P20,000 for each of the categories.*