BY GLORIA LEODIVICA INES ARANETA
Tagbilaran City has proven its excellence yet again, earning a series of prestigious national and international awards in 2024.
City Mayor Jane Yap disclosed these accomplishments during her heartfelt and inspiring message at the City Hall employees’ Christmas party on December 13, 2024, held at the City Hall grounds.
Mayor Yap expressed her gratitude for the collective efforts of City Hall employees, whose dedication and hard work contributed to the city’s remarkable progress and numerous awards this year.
The crowning achievement of the year was Tagbilaran’s recognition as the Top 4 Most Competitive Component City in the Philippines by the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI). The city excelled in multiple areas, including Government Efficiency (Top 2), Resiliency (Top 7), Infrastructure (Top 6), and Innovation (Top 8 ). On the regional level, it achieved the Top 1 Most Competitive City in the Visayas, solidifying its reputation as a model city for progress and sustainability.
In addition, Tagbilaran City was recognized as one of the Top 10 Component Cities in the Philippines by the Bureau of Local Government Finance for having an impressive total current operating expenditure per capita of ₱9,682.
It also ranked among the Top 8 Cities for year-on-year growth in local source revenues, registering a remarkable 22.83% increase.
Another landmark achievement is the reclassification by the Department of Finance which elevated Tagbilaran City to a 2nd Class City, opening up more opportunities for growth and development.
The city also earned the prestigious Seal of Good Local Finance Housekeeping and the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance, both awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Tagbilaran City’s commitment to digital transformation was recognized with multiple awards.
It received the Digital Cities Award from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, highlighting its success under the Digital Cities Program. Furthermore, the city was honored as a Leader in Sustainable Financial Digitalization by GCash and earned a commendation from the Anti-Red Tape Authority for establishing a fully digitalized and streamlined electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS).
Adding to its achievements, the city received the Outstanding Public Communication Award and was named Digital Democracy Champion by USAID, the Makati Business Club, and civil society organizations during the Digital Democracy Awards 2024.
In the field of disaster preparedness, Tagbilaran City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) received the Gawad Kalasag Award 2024 from the NDRRMC for its exceptional disaster preparedness initiatives.
The CDRRMO also earned the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Pagasa Award (Regional Level) in the Group Category, while Ms. Adelfa Salutan, Head of the City Livelihood and Development Unit, was recognized with the CSC National Pagasa Award (Individual Category) for her significant contributions to community development.
The city’s investment in youth development was highly lauded, with the Youth Development Alliance of Tagbilaran receiving numerous awards from the USAID Opportunity 2.0 Youth and Partners Summit, including the National Most Outstanding Youth Champion Award for Marbert D. Remolador and special citations for sustainability and youth entrepreneurship.
On the health front, Tagbilaran City was recognized with a Special Citation for Mental Health Initiatives by the DOH Central Visayas and received multiple awards for its nutrition programs, including the Green Banner Seal of Compliance and the Good Nutrition Practice in the Region Award. Additionally, the city was named a Top 3 Performing LGU in the Big Population Category for fully immunized children.
In recognition of the city’s active multi-sectoral and participative governance, Tagbilaran received two awards for Pioneering Local People’s Council and for Pioneering civil society organizations (CSO) Academy called in Tagbilaran City as the Center For Responsive Citizen Empowerment, Education and Development (CREED).
Tagbilaran City also gained international acclaim when the Tribu Bol-anon, representing the city, won the Best Global Award at the Daegu Festival in South Korea, triumphing over 94 other contingents worldwide.
With these accolades, Tagbilaran City stands as a beacon of innovation, resilience, and progress, ready to take on greater challenges and opportunities in the coming years.