LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rep. Eric Yap and Gov. Melchor Diclas continue to reap various recognitions in relation to the effective and efficient delivery of quality basic services to the people of Benguet to help them uplift the living condition of their families and help the province become one of the most developed province in the country.
For three straight years, Yap was awarded Honorary Congressman of the Year during the Nation Builders and Mosliv Awards Night recently.
Organized by Sustainability Standards Inc., the Nation Builders & Mosliv Awards aims to “rally Filipinos together to join the global fight toward the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for a climate-neutral society within the next few decades.”
“This is for Benguet. Ultimately, what I do is for our people. Bonus na lang ito and gusto natin magpasalamat sa Nation Builders and Mosliv Awards for giving me this honor for the 3rd consecutive year. I am overwhelmed but it will still keep me pushing. Uhaw pa din tayo sa development and ‘yan pa din ang goal na madala natin sa bawat household,” said Yap.
Yap also expressed his gratitude and reiterated his unwavering commitment to continue serving the people of Benguet with passion and dedication and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in effecting positive change and vowed to remain steadfast in his pursuit of progress and development for the province.
“There are new programs na we initiated the past year, mga bago which are results nung mga feedback sa community na kailangan pa. I always ask everybody kung anong maitutulong natin and I always put effort kung paano at anong magandang programa ang gawin,” added Yap.
The Nation Builders & Mosliv Awards recognizes the various individuals’ contributions from the public service sector – the representatives, governors, and mayors, down to the barangay level and include the contributions from philanthropists from the non-government sector, CEOs, and modern Filipino and Filipina heroes, as well as the local government units, companies, and organizations that are functioning in a sustainable way, respecting the environment, bringing positive impact to their respective constituencies and communities.
Aside from filing house bills with some becoming a law, Yap has also put in place livelihood programs, policies on agriculture and infrastructure development in the province.
“We are not satisfied na gawin lang yung mandate natin as legislator, that’s the easier part. Mas challenging yung going beyond the role, beyond the comfort zone, pero yun ang mas kailangan. We need responsive programs in place and we will not stop hangga’t nandito tayo,” the solon quipped.
In a related development, Gov. Diclas was also recently recognized as the Most Outstanding Governor in the country by a national association for his social welfare endeavors.
Governor Diclas personally received the plaque of recognition during the Gawad Parangal 2024 Award for Outstanding Local Chief Executive of the Philippines in the field of Social Welfare and Development held at Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, with the theme: “Local Government Units’ Catalyst for Collective Action, Social Movements, and Social Change.”
The Governor was named the Outstanding Local Chief Executive of the Philippines, Provincial Governor Category for Luzon Island, which is an award conferred yearly by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines (ALSWDOPI, INC).
Couple of months earlier, the award-giving body evaluated the best practices of the Provinces relative to Social Welfare and Development from 2021 to 2023.
They lauded Governor Diclas’ initiatives “in uplifting the general wellbeing of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors” of Benguet localities.
Diclas expressed his gratitude to ALSWDOPI for the motivation, stating he together with his fellow government leaders will remain committed to being innovative in serving their constituents.
The awardee also extended his thanks to the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (OPSWD) headed by Melba Motio and other department heads and personnel of the Provincial Government, highlighting unity and effective communication as the driver to the success of the different programs and projects of the local government.
Other individuals recognized are outstanding provincial, municipal, and city officials and social workers from different regions in the country.
The awarding ceremony, which is part of the 27th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly took place recently, was graced by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.
Over 2,000 social workers and guests attended the national assembly, with Benguet delegation represented by Acting PSWDO Motio and her staff, and social workers from the different Benguet municipal local government units. By Dexter A. See
