Panay town tops Capiz GPK search

by Jemin B. Guillermo

Roxas City (9 December) -- Panay town has been declared as this year's Cleanest and Greenest municipality in the province of Capiz.

Governor Victor Tanco, with Mrs. Judy Araneta-Roxas and Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Helen Mestidio, awarded a cheque worth P150,000 and a plaque of recognition to Panay town municipal officials headed by Mayor Dante Bermejo.

The awarding ceremony was among the highlights during the Local Government Units (LGU) night dubbed as "Gab-i sang Pagpasalamat" (Night of Thanksgiving) which is one of the major activities of this year's Sinadya sa Halaran activity.

The top six towns who won in this year's Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Provincial Search also received cash awards and plaque of recognition.

Said towns are Ivisan, President Roxas, Dao, Dumarao and Sapian as second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth places, respectively.

The other 10 towns each received plaque of recognition and P10,000 as consolation prizes.

Last year, Panay was declared second place winner in the Western Visayas GPK search under the 1st to 3rd class municipality category.

Earlier, Gov. Tanco vowed to sustain the cleanliness and greening program in the province that he continued to earmark budget for the conduct of the annual GPK search in Capiz despite the suspension of said activity at the regional and national levels.

Tanco stressed that his administration is committed to spend for the sustainability of the program because the Capiceños will be the end beneficiaries of said activity.

Tanco, who was the guest during the meeting of the Provincial Search Committee of Capiz with representatives from the 16 municipal government units of the province, said that he is committed to continue the "Clean and Green" program which was started by the national government.

For this year's Search, the provincial government here has set aside some P625,000 for prizes to winners.

Aside from the winners, the GPK evaluators composed of representatives from the national government agencies and non-government organizations were also granted plaque of appreciation by the governor. (PIA)