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Aurora gov is RP’s best local chief exec

BALER, Aurora – For the second year in a row, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo has been named the Most Outstanding Local Chief Executive for her pioneering programs on social welfare services.
The award was bestowed on Angara-Castillo by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City highlighting the 12th National Social Welfare and Development Forum on Wednesday. Aida Rutaquio, provincial social welfare and development officer received the plaque of recognition in behalf of Angara-Castillo from ALSWDOPI president Ernesto Montecillo. The governor is on official mission to Australia.

In October, Angara-Castillo was also the recipient of the 2007 Search for Most Outstanding LCE by the group in ceremonies at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City.

The 2008 Forum was graced by social welfare and development officers in the provincial, city and municipal levels, the respective chairpersons of the committee on social services of the provincial board, city municipal councils and municipal presidents of day-care workers’ federations nationwide.

In handing the award, the group cited her for carrying out her six-point development agenda in her native province of Aurora centering on the needs of the poor and the needy, particularly the so-called vulnerable sectors of society such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), indigenous peoples (IPs), out-of-school youths, unemployed women, single mothers and senior citizens.

The governor was credited for establishing the P5-million People Empowerment and Advancement Center (PEACE) in this capital town to attend to the needs of the sector. The Center, funded by a grant of the Japanese Embassy through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Security Project, empowers the sector to participate in mainstream development by providing them with skills training necessary for their employment.

“By empowering them to become productive citizens, you give them hope and confidence to live decent lives,” Angara-Castillo said.

Guy Tuzon, executive assistant of the governor, told The STAR that the award by no less than the ALSWDOPI, considered the mother of all social welfare institutions in the country, is a fitting tribute to her role as hands-on chief executive and mother figure of the province, considered one of the 20 poorest provinces in the country.

Tuzon said as hands-on governor, Angara-Castillo shows her passion for public service by keeping personal touch with the people, particularly the sector, by interacting with them, listening to their problems, feelings and aspirations.

Tuzon added that the governor was able to interact with them, particularly children, being a mother herself concerned with the welfare of her offspring.

The governor, a former congresswoman, was the principal author of the Early Childhood Care and Development Act in the House of Representatives.

This year, the provincial government launched its own child minding center at the Capitol compound to cater to children of Capitol employees. – MG