Three LGUs to receive medal of excellence in Cordi Month

BAGUIO CITY -- In celebration of this year’s Cordillera Month, the Regional Development Council – CAR launched the awarding of the Forwarding Local Autonomy Medal of Excellence (FLAME) to local government units.

The RDC-CAR as the highest policy-making body of the region, conceived the FLAME awards in 2014 to serve as the mechanism that recognizes and rewards valuable contributions of local governments in attaining economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental integrity in the region.

The assessment and selection of the winner LGUs was headed by the regional awards committee (RAC) chaired by National Economic Development Authority-Cordillera Administrative Region  Regional Director Milagros A. Rimando and co-chaired by the Dept. of Interior and Local Government Regional Director John M. Castañeda.

The final list of awardees were also deliberated last June 23 by the sectoral committee on development administration in its meeting where SeCom chair  Castañeda mentioned that the FLAME awards also intends to get LGUs involved in RDC activities and bolster advocacy for regional and local autonomy in the region.

Winners will come from three categories: (1) province / highly urbanized city category, (2) the 1^st – 3^rd class municipality / component city category, and (3) the 4^th – 6^th class municipality category.

The scoring of the competing LGUs was based on three criteria: 50 points for the performance of LGUs on various aspects of Good Governance; 40 points for the initiatives in strengthening local-regional partnerships towards the region’s pursuit of autonomy, and the remaining 10 points for the Local Chief Executives’ participation in RDC-led activities. An LGU must obtain an overall score of 75 points and higher to qualify for an award.

 Prizes for the winners include the medal of excellence, a plaque, and a set of gong.

 The FLAME award shall be given out to winners on the culminating program of Cordi Month on July 15, 2015 at Luna, Apayao.