Laoag mayor Michael M. Keon receives a plaque of recognition and a P250,000.00 check as the winner in the search for the cleanest and greenest city in the province of Ilocos Norte. The awarding was witnessed by VG Cecilia Araneta Marcos, PENR officer Ms. Estrella 'Baby' Sacro and DENR-IN provincial director Vic Dabalos. (CMO-Laoag photo)
By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Laoag City—Laoag City and the municipality of Nueva Era emerged as this year’s “cleanest and greenest” local government units (LGUs) of Ilocos Norte.
Under the “Narimat nga Aglawlaw” (A Brighter Environment) campaign of Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, the provincial government, through its environment and natural resources office (ENRO), started the province-wide “Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Competition” last year to challenge component local government units to improve their waste management.
Held at the Sirib Mile on December 9, 2020, Laoag City won its second “cleanest and greenest” award for the city level while Nueva Era garnered its first win for the municipal level. The winners also received PHP250,000.00 and PHP 200,000.00, as cash prizes respectively.
Mr. Keon thanked the continuing participation and cooperation of all the different department head of offices, all the 80 Barangays and especially to the Barangay officials and the people of Laoag for their support in this program
At the municipal level, Pagudpud ranked second place for two consecutive years and awarded PHP 50,000.00; while third placer Badoc brought home PHP100,000.00.
Other winners of the second “Search for the Cleanest and Greenest Competition were:
Barangay level: Brgy. Caparispisan, Pagudpud, champion; Brgy. Alsem, Vintar, first runner-up; and Brgy. Poblacion, Burgos, second runner-up;
National government agency category: Department of Public Works and Highways-Ilocos Norte 1st District Engineering Office (DPWH 1st DEO), champion; DPWH-Ilocos Norte 2nd DEO, first runner-up; and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines–Laoag City, second runner-up.
The minor awards under the “Well-Managed Public Places Category” were Best Public Market (Pagudpud), Best Slaughter House (Bangui), Best Cemetery (Nueva Era), Best Public Park (Batac City), and Best Rural Health Unit (Badoc).
Brgy. Marcos in Banna, meanwhile obtained the “Environment Management and Sustainability Award”.
In his message, Mr. Manotoc reminded the winners to be driven by their good intentions and not by the awards: “Let this be an effort of us that is genuine not merely one that we carry out for the prize. The one that we take to heart, we truly value, and we can also impart on our future generations.”
Garbage compactors, P2.5M SWM cash aid distribution
Simultaneous with the awarding ceremony, the provincial government also conducted the blessing and distribution of garbage compactors to the two cities and 15 municipalities. Each of the remaining six towns received PHP2.5 million cash aid for the implementation of their solid waste management (SWM) program.
“More than a year ago, when I took my term as your governor. My two promises were to ameliorate the health and the environment sector. What better way to celebrate my 32nd birthday and to have two momentous occasions in both of these sectors,” Mr. Manotoc remarked.
"Ilokanos has always a deep respect for the environment and has learned to maximize it. I applaud all of you who are taking care of our environment, and may we continue to take care of it and each other," he ended. (Blessing Angel V. Agliam)