THE Cebu Provincial government will be giving rewards to local government units (LGUs) that implement projects promoting Cebu as an ideal place to live, visit and invest.
The initiative, which is under the “Our Cebu” program, previously known as E-Gwen, evaluates each city and municipality within the jurisdiction of the province and gives monetary rewards to the top performing LGUs at the end of the year.
“We will evaluate the municipalities and cities according to the program’s criteria: green, livability, restoration of cultural heritage sites, governance, readiness and resiliency,” Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said.
The top three performing LGUs will receive P1 million, P750,000, and P500,000, respectively.
The provincial evaluation team is composed of 18 agencies coming from different sectors. The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will give the evaluation team technical support.
A ‘focal persons’ conference was held last Monday requiring the provincial focal persons to disseminate information about the program and coordinate with the participating LGUs.
The meeting was presided over by Tats Samson, a senior program officer of RAFI.
In her opening message, Magpale said the program is in line with the province’s aim to implement projects that would benefit everyone.
“We want to make Cebu an ideal place to live, to visit and to invest. And we can all benefit from this,” she said.
Also under the program, one barangay will be chosen winner from among the 51 barangays endorsed by their respective municipalities. These barangays underwent evaluation by the provincial government.
“Regardless of the prizes and the honors that go with the awards, it is the obligation of all officials to initiate projects that will improve the community and its constituents as this is a continuing program of the provincial government,” Magpale said.
The vice governor clarified that the program has nothing to do with politics and that the Comelec will not suspend it.