Oro eyes ‘Galing Pook’ award

AFTER its big win at the Regional Competitive Summit, the City Government is also gearing up for the Galing Pook Award, a program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by local government units.

The city bagged the award last year, recognizing its efforts in rebuilding following one of the worst natural disasters in its history.

In a presentation entitled “Rising up from the Mud,” the City Government showed how the administration of Mayor Oscar Moreno facilitated the rise from the devastation of Tropical Storm Sendong.

This year, the city is focusing on its emancipation program, where lots under the “piso-piso” program can be transferred to the beneficiaries upon, namely payment of acquisition cost, declaring of hereditary succession, and final transfer upon payment.

In the previous administration, beneficiaries are residing in their own areas in the “piso-piso” sites but with only a certificate of occupancy from the previous administration.

But Mayor Oscar Moreno, through his Task Force Emancipation, has pledged to grant certificates of ownership to the beneficiaries in order for them to be secured in their acquired lands.

A national team composed of Ed Dela Torre, the National Screening Committee of the Galing Pook Awards 2018, andeonardo Ubalde, Galing Pook Program Officer visited the city yesterday for evaluation.

The team went to relocation sites of Cagayan de Oro and interviewed the resients who benefited the program. (PJ Orias)