Last September 1, the Galing Pook Awards 2015 was held to culminate the Mamamayan Mamamayani Governance Fair at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. Apart from recognizing the Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs, the first ever Citizenship Award was conducted.

The Galing Pook Citizenship Award puts in the limelight individuals and civil society organizations (CSOs) who initiated acts for social good amidst socio-economic difficulties, controversies in the government and development challenges caused by climate change. They continue to maximize resources to bring greater impact to the communities they work with.

At first run, 33 CSOs/individuals submitted their respective nominations for the Citizenship Award. Of these, 5 were chosen as finalists, 4 of which are base organizations of CODE-NGO’s member networks.

Balay Mindanaw Foundation, a member of the Mindanao Caucus of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), was recognized for their ‘efforts in putting an end to armed conflict through peacebuilding and development programs’. Operating in more than 40 conflict/disaster-affected communities throughout Mindanao, they implement integrated and participatory programs at the barangay level. Through these initiatives, communities and their leaders have considered peace, not just as a security issue but as a development issue as well, and realized that they have a role to play in the process.

Tagum Cooperative, one of the National Confederation of Cooperative’s (NATCCO) members, was awarded for its Community Development Programs and Projects. Their more than 117,000 members continue to benefit from their programs in education, nutrition, savings and credit, livelihood and health. With these, they have come close to their vision of becoming “the best one-stop shop for total member care” and “icon of economic, social and spiritual transformation for families, communities and society”.

Shontoug Foundation, a base organization of the Cordillera Network of Development NGOs and POs (CORDNET), was a finalist because of their Community Health Care Program for the indigenous people in Sagubo, Kapangan, Benguet. This program, which involves the community and managed by the main beneficiaries, resulted in the availability and accessibility of 23 trained functional and dedicated health workers serving 404 families in 3 villages. It showed that community-based approaches to health care are feasible and can be sustainable.

Mahintana Foundation, another member of MINCODE and the Association of Foundations (AF), was commended for its Health Plus Program, the procurement and distribution of affordable medicines in SOCSARGEN, through 75 franchisees serving the health needs of about 180,500 patients. Its operation has lowered the prices of medicines as much as 200%. The equity investment and revenue sharing benefited program partners and stakeholders and sustained the foundation’s social franchising, while helping the government improve its health service delivery.

Balay Mindanaw and Tagum Cooperative were the 2 of the 3 Citizenship Awardees for 2015. The other award was given to Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government (CCAGG) for their community-based monitoring of government programs and services.

May these good practices serve as an inspiration and guide for other CSOs and individuals to continue to innovate ways to help address the perennial concerns of society. Leveraging on participatory approaches to development renders a more pronounced impact to the communities and beneficiaries.

Reference:
Galing Pook Awards 2015 Souvenir Program