ILOILO — The provincial government is once again aiming to secure the prestigious Galing Pook award.
For 2024, it has entered the “Puso Para sa Puso – Movement for Healthy Hearts Towards MoRProGRes Iloilo” initiative.
This entry – part of the province’s ongoing implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Healthy Hearts Program – has reduced the risk of cardiovascular diseases among residents by focusing on controlling hypertension.
Launched in 1993 by the Galing Pook Foundation, the award recognizes innovative local government programs that address various challenges in local government units (LGUs). Programs and local governments cited are hoped to be seen as models for good governance for adoption in other communities.
The Healthy Hearts project is dedicated to lowering mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.
The program encompasses a comprehensive package of interventions and technical support to LGUs. These include promoting healthy lifestyles, implementing evidence-based treatment protocols, ensuring access to essential medicines for NCDs, and deploying monitoring systems.
Iloilo was the first local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines to adopt the Healthy Hearts Program. It began its pilot in 2021, initially covering the towns of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Igbaras, and Tubungan.
In June 2023, the program expanded to 16 more towns, including Ajuy, Anilao, Alimodian, Badiangan, Banate, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Dueñas, Janiuay, Lambunao, Lemery, Mina, New Lucena, San Enrique, and Zarraga.
Furthermore, Iloilo hosted the country’s first World Heart Day celebration on September 29, 2022, marking the success of its health initiatives.
As part of the award evaluation process, the Galing Pook Committee conducted a site validation of the provincial government’s program on September 2-3, 2024.
The committee was led by former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Austere Panadero and Professor Ruben Gamala from the University of the Philippines – Visayas.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. personally presented the provincial government’s entry to the committee along with department heads.
The Galing Pook team also visited Tigbauan, conducting a site validation and dialogue with local health workers and stakeholders.
Iloilo Province previously won its first Galing Pook award on October 12, 2023, for its “Zero to Limpyo Iloilo: Movement for a Province-wide ZOD,” which focused on mobilizing communities through a people-centered Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) Movement towards sustainable sanitation.
Galing Pook is renowned for its role in recognizing, supporting, and promoting innovation, sustainability, citizen empowerment, and excellence in local governance./PN
