The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VIII (DSWD FO VIII) proudly hosted the 2025 Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan (PaNata Ko sa Bayan) Awards on March 26, 2025, at the People’s Center and Library. This esteemed event served as a memorable platform to honor 120 outstanding Provincial and Local Government Units (P/LGUs) from across Eastern Visayas, recognizing their profound and unwavering commitment to serving the region’s marginalized and disadvantaged sectors through inclusive, compassionate, and responsive social welfare programs.
The heart of the celebration revolved around four pivotal major awards, each highlighting distinct qualities vital to exceptional public service: the Gawad Serbisyong Mapagkalinga, Gawad Serbisyong Matapat, Gawad Serbisyong Masigasig, and Gawad Serbisyong Mahusay. Catbalogan City, Samar, was notably distinguished as the top awardee for the Gawad Serbisyong Mapagkalinga, exemplifying the pinnacle of service delivery. The widespread recognition of numerous LGUs across these categories underscored a unified regional dedication to delivering high-quality social protection programs.
Beyond the core awards, the ceremony featured a comprehensive array of special recognitions, reflecting the DSWD’s holistic approach to social welfare and development. Seventy-six (76) LGUs received the 2024 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance, a testament to their efforts in promoting child rights and welfare, conferred jointly by the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children and DILG Region 8. The Kaisa Ko sa Pagbabago Award, presented by the Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee, celebrated the Province of Biliran for achieving Level 3 Accreditation for its Bahay Pag-asa and for its exemplary implementation of a comprehensive juvenile intervention plan.
Further acknowledgments highlighted LGU successes in crucial areas such as disaster preparedness, recognized through the Serbisyo Award for Excellence in Disaster Management. Initiatives in livelihood enhancement were lauded with the Tulay sa Pagyabong Award under the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Efficient and effective program implementation for senior citizens was also celebrated with the Social Pension Program Awards and the Centenarian Program Award. LGUs at the forefront of innovation were acknowledged for adopting cutting-edge social technologies like Project Link and Home Care Support Services. Top-performing implementers of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) also received due recognition for their dedication.
In a special tribute, the Kaagapay Award was proudly presented to the Provincial Government of Leyte for its consistent and invaluable support to DSWD programs. Additionally, Congressman Paul R. Daza of Northern Samar’s 1st District received the prestigious 2025 Social Welfare and Development Award for his exceptional contributions to the sector.
The PaNata Ko sa Bayan Awards are firmly rooted in the national policy of devolution, as enshrined in Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, and further reinforced by Executive Order No. 138, s.2021, known as the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling. These foundational frameworks empower LGUs as the frontline implementers of social welfare services, while the DSWD strategically transitions into a steering role—focusing on policy formulation, technical assistance, and vital resource augmentation.
This awards initiative serves as a strategic incentive mechanism, meticulously designed to encourage LGUs to continuously elevate their delivery of social protection programs. It is built upon the well-established evidence that performance recognition significantly boosts organizational morale and enhances service quality. By rigorously acknowledging excellence, the DSWD aims to cultivate a robust culture of innovation, accountability, and unwavering dedication among LGUs, simultaneously encouraging them to mainstream best practices and prioritize social welfare initiatives within their local agendas.
The core objectives underpinning the PaNata Ko sa Bayan Awards are multifaceted: to profoundly recognize outstanding LGU performance, to vigorously promote continuous program improvement, to actively encourage the seamless integration of social welfare into local governance priorities, to elevate service standards across the board, and to foster peer learning through the widespread promotion of successful practices. These concerted efforts collectively aim to strengthen community well-being and propel inclusive development forward.
To ensure the sustained impact and broadened reach of this vital initiative, DSWD FO VIII is making a significant investment in the development of compelling advocacy and communication materials. These resources will meticulously capture and vividly showcase the inspiring success stories of the awardees. These narratives are envisioned as powerful tools, designed to inspire replication, drive further innovation, and fortify the resolve of other LGUs to champion social welfare excellence.
More than a mere celebration of achievements, the PaNata Ko sa Bayan Awards embody a powerful call to action—a collective pledge to uphold the inherent dignity of every Filipino, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable. Through these meaningful recognitions, DSWD reaffirms its unwavering commitment to inclusive development and deepens its invaluable partnership with local governments, all working in concert towards building a just, caring, and empowered society where no one is left behind.
