MABALACAT CITY –The Mabalacat City Government (MCG) has earned unprecedented accolades and recognitions, especially in areas of education, health, and social services.
According to Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, the awards are a source of pride for Mabalaqueños and an inspiration to the local officials in propelling the ‘Bayung Mabalacat’ vision.
If given a fresh mandate, the city mayor said that the local government will refocus its roadmap to expand its services, and ultimately, continue being a benchmark of best practices across the archipelago.
“Kami po ni Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino ay buong-kumpiyansang humaharap sa inyo daladala ang mga pangakong aming naisakatuparan at mga parangal na iginawad sa Mabalacat City bilang pagkilala sa ating mabuting pamamahala,” Mayor Garbo said during a public dialogue with his supporters and constituents at the Madapdap Resettlement, Barangay Dapdap.
As a statement of MCG’s stance on promoting the rights and welfare of Mabalaqueño children, the city garnered the highest Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) rating among 55 local government units in Central Luzon. The audit result was jointly conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWD) in 2021.
MCG was also cited by the national government and international institutions for its education, health, nutrition, and social services programs. To name a few: DSWD Outstanding LGU Implementing Day Care Services PDEA Anti-Drug Abuse Council Award 2022, CHED Gawad Parangal 2021 Institutional Award to Mabalacat City College (MCC), Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Award to MCC, National Nutrition Council (NNC) Natatanging Parangal 2021, NNC One of Top 5 LGUs featured in Compendium of Local Nutrition Ordinances, Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (City Level), Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar – 2nd (Regional Level), and 2-Time Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN).
The city is also a recipient of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council Award 2021, Aliw Awards Best Festival Practices and Performance 2020 (Caragan Festival), Department of Health Highest Polio Coverage (City Level), and the MANILA BAYani Award 2019.
Over the decade, Mabalacat City has been a five-time recipient of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) from the national government. SGLG is a results-based performance management audit that includes various key governance areas, which has been instrumental in upholding transparency and accountability among local governments, promoting proactive actions to prepare for challenges posed by disasters, and influencing LGU behavior that is supportive of both national and international developmental goals.
Furthermore, despite the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 crisis on local governance, MCG has been consistently recognized by the national government for its efficient and effective pandemic response including its vaccination initiatives.
Award-winning leadership
As Mabalacat City continues to reap numerous awards from the national government and private institutions, so as Mayor Crisostomo Garbo and Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino.
Just recently, the city mayor received the Caballero’80 Highest Achievement Award in Public Service which was formally conferred during the flag-raising rites at the city hall on April 25, 2022.
The award cites Garbo’s heart-felt commitment and quality of service to the people of Mabalacat and beyond, and for giving the people of the city an honest government that they deserve. It also underscored the city mayor’s unrelenting service to improve the lives of the Mabalaqueños, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.
In 2021, Mayor Garbo and Vice Mayor Aquino won the Don Pedro and Doña Cecilia Samson Philanthropist Award from Our Lady of Victories Parish Church for their outstanding performance in public service.
Also, for two consecutive years (2018 & 2019), the Garbo-Aquino administration won the Anti-Corruption Integrity Award from the Anti-Corruption Civil Movement General Federation (ACMGF), for their relentless advocacy for promoting honesty and good governance.
