(Conclusion, continued from yesterday)
Iloilo City—Mayor Jerry Treñas has underscored the value of teamwork in realizing their shared visions toward the city’s greatness in all of its endeavors.
“Some of the ideas or programs emanate from our city council while others from the executive, but if the whole team is working as one, things are easier. If we unite and work together, we go on continuously for more developments,” the mayor said.
Treñas said the awards, citations, and recognitions mustered by the city serve as an inspiration that propels significant strides toward achieving the city’s goal to be one of the Top 3 Most Liveable, Sustainable and Resilient highly urbanized cities in the country by 2028.
“I congratulate the departments and offices that worked so hard to attain these awards. For those that are not yet outstanding, there is still time for you to show us that you can perform better,” he said.
According to him, Iloilo City has gone a long way, but there is a need to sustain the efforts so far exerted.
“We really need to make sure everything that we do is sustained. Because if it is sustained, can you imagine what Iloilo will be in 10 years. Kadaku na gid sang makambyo sa landscape sang Iloilo City,” he said.
The city mayor cited the importance of a close working relationship between the executive and the city council as one of the measures to ensure sustainability.
For Treñas, the multiple awards and recognitions the city reaped this 2023, rank second to the Ilonggos’ deep sense of pride for the city.
For receiving the highest rating of “Beyond Compliant,” Iloilo City exceeded the standards for the establishment and functionality of local (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) councils and offices, and has best practices that are beyond the regular DRRM programs.
Meanwhile, the city’s renowned Iloilo Dinagyang Festival received Pearl Award this year after being adjudged as grand winner for Best Cultural Festival (City Category) by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).
Iloilo City was also declared by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as the grand winner of Best Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for HUC category in Western Visayas and in the whole Philippines.
It also bagged the Unique Employment Program award for its Uswag Negosyo Economic Boost to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Iloilo City Public Information Office (PIO) likewise garnered awards during the 2023 Western Visayas Information Officers’ Year-end Conference and Awards.
The city PIO won the Best Performing Information Office, Best Performing Public Information Officer (Hall of Fame) for PIO head Ma. Lucy M. Sinay, Best Facebook Page, and second placer for Best Newsletter for Kauswagan, the city’s official publication.
The Iloilo City government and the City Health Office bagged a total of 10 regional health awards given by the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development Region 6 under different categories, for exemplary performance and outstanding contributions in achieving health program benchmarks and core objectives.
These include the recognition for achieving 2.56 percent donation rate of successful non-remunerated blood donors; and for being a top performing LGU in reaching the target of 85 percent for Tuberculosis Treatment Coverage Rate for 2022, among others.
The Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory has also been hailed by the DOH as one of the Top 10 best-performing organizations with Exemplary Best Practices at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City Assessor’s and Treasurer’s offices also garnered several awards and citations from Department of Finance Bureau of Local Government Finance 6 and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors in Region 6 this year, for having been ranked as Top 1 among all the HUCs in Region 6 based on the Business Tax and Other Taxes Collection Efficiency; Highest Locally Sourced Revenue in Fees and Charges, in Real Property Tax, and in Economic Enterprise.
Trenas further acknowledged the strong public-private partnership – a big factor for the city’s continuous progress.
“Makita ta nga kon para sa kaayuhan gali, mahapos magbulig ang mga Ilonggo kag nalipay gid ako,” Treñas said.