ILOILO – Demonstrating leadership and innovation in population and development initiatives, this province clinched first place in the 2025 Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Awards for the Western Visayas Provincial Category — earning the right to represent the region in the national search for the country’s most outstanding local government units (LGUs) in POPDev implementation.
The award highlights Iloilo’s effective localization of the Population and Development (POPDev) Agenda, led by the Provincial Population Office under Atty. Ruel Von Superio.
The province will receive a P30,000 financial grant to further advance its programs at the grassroots level.
Two Iloilo municipalities also secured top honors in the Municipal Category: Pavia placed second, under Population Program Officer Lalaine Kay Decado, while Dueñas took third place, under the leadership of Population Program Officer Jemar Harold Jison. They will receive grants of P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.
The Kaunlarang Pantao Awards recognize LGUs for innovative, functional, and sustainable programs that promote population management in support of local development. Evaluation criteria include program impact, community engagement, and integration with local planning.
In a statement, Superio credited the province’s success to the unwavering support of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
“We are grateful to our good governor and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their unwavering support and steadfast commitment to our population and development programs, projects, and initiatives. Because of your unwavering support, we continue to thrive and excel. Grateful beyond words,” he said./PN
