LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government recently recognized the declared winners of the 2019 Search for Cleanest and Greenest Public Schools and Barangays in the municipality as part of the efforts of the local government to empower residents to value the importance of preserving and protecting the environment.
The awarding of the winners was supposedly done last year but the same was moved back following the implementation of the various levels of community quarantine to contain the rapid spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the municipality.
Don Pulas Elementary School was declared the back-to-back champion in the Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Public elementary School bagging a certificate of recognition and a cash reward of P30,000. Bineng Elementary School bagged the second place with a certificate of recognition and a P25,000 cash reward, Longlong Elementary School ranked third with a certificate of recognition and a P20,000 cash reward while Lower Wangal Elementary School settled for fourth place with a cash reward of P15,000.
On the other hand, Lubas was elevated to the hall of Fame after having bagged the first place for 3 consecutive years and was given a certificate of recognition and a P55,000 cash reward. Alapang ranked second with a certificate of recognition and a cash reward of P30,000 followed by Ambiong in third with a certificate of recognition and a P30,000 cash reward, Bahong landed in fourth place with a certificate of recognition and a P25,000 cash reward while Alno settled for fifth with a similar certificate of recognition and a P20,000 cash reward.
Ambiong was adjudged the Most Innovative Barangay which was awarded a separate certificate of recognition and a P5,000 cash award.
La Trinidad Elementary School took the Best Canteen Award with a certificate of recognition and a cash reward of P5,000 while Balili was declared the Best Action Barangay Kontra Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya which was bestowed a certificate of recognition and a cash reward of P5,000.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda lauded the winners for their excellent performance and contribution in the overall efforts of concerned government agencies and the local government to preserve and protect the environment, saying that other barangays and public elementary schools should draw inspiration for the achievements of the same to improve their current status in the conduct of similar activities in the future.
He stated that the local government will continue holding the contest to sustain the gains of the ongoing campaign for the preservation and protection of the town’s environment for the present generation to pass on to the future generations a good state of the environment.
Supposedly, the awarding of the winners was part of last year’s lined up activities for the Strawberry Festival but the declaration of the Luzonwide lockdown on March 17, 2020 prompted the municipal government to cancel this until the situation got better, thus, the awarding rites was done simultaneous with the regular Monday flag raising ceremony at the municipal grounds.
By HENT
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis