Galing Pook Foundation Recognizes Outstanding Local Government Programs for 2022

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Ten outstanding local governance programs were recognized in the 2022 Galing Pook Awards held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace last Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

Galing Pook Foundation with its co-presenters SM Prime Holdings Inc., and the DILG-Local Government Academy, and sponsors Cebu Pacific and Airspeed named local government units from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that promote innovation and excellence.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. He stressed how strong collaboration between the public and private sector can lead to more meaningful and successful programs that truly benefit the Filipino people.

“The recognition that you give to cities and municipalities inspires them to accelerate their drive towards improvement and it encourages LGUs to adopt practices that make us paragons of excellence in public service. It is necessary for us to underscore the importance of strengthening partnerships between the government and private organizations, such as the Galing Pook Foundation, especially as we bring about meaningful progress in the country.”

Galing Pook Chairperson Mel Sarmiento expressed his gratitude to all the local executives and LGU teams that participated this year: “It’s truly inspiring to see the impact of the work that you do, and I’m sure you’ve brought value to many Filipinos all over the country. Our collaborations bring us closer to realizing our shared vision, na ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino, may simple pero kumportableng buhay.”

The winners of the 2022 Galing Pook Awards were: The Green Wall of Alcala (Alcala, Cagayan);

Advancing and Sustaining Good Governance and Community Actions towards Resiliency and Empowerment (Basilan Province); Bataan Public-Private Partnership Programs (Bataan Province);

Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development through Heritage Conservation (Biñan City, Laguna); From Black to Green: Fishponds, Eco-Tourism and Full Employment (Brgy. Cayabu, Tanay, Rizal);

Trekking to Unlock Community Ailments and Difficulties (TUCAD) (Goa, Camarines Sur); “I-BIKE” A Program Promoting the Development of the Iloilo City Bike Culture (Iloilo City); Yaru: A Whole-of-Community Approach Towards Disaster Management (Itbayat, Batanes); Libertad Fish Forever Savings Club (Libertad, Antique); and

Basta Piddigueño, AgriHenyo: Consolidated Farm Production System (Piddig, Ilocos Norte).

The 10 winners were chosen from 18 finalists and a record field of 196 applications from different LGUs in the country.

Launched on October 21, 1993, the Galing Pook Awards has recognized 329 LGU programs from 200 LGUs in the country that have been promoted for replication to benefit more communities.


Caption: President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. recognizes the 10 winners of the Galing Pook Foundation 2022 at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace. He commended the Galing Pook Foundation for recognizing and incentivizing top performing LGUs. With them in the photo are: Galing Pook Foundation chairman Mel Sarmiento, Local Government secretary Benjamin Abalos, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

SM provides learners with environment conducive to learning

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More than just an area where students gather to hold classes, a school environment plays a vital role in learners’ cognitive development. Research has shown that with an environment conducive to learning, students increase their attention and focus, and they are more motivated to practice higher-level critical thinking skills.

Adamant to provide students with venues where they can fully hone their skills and knowledge, SM Foundation (SMFI)—the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group—cemented its partnership with the Department of Education (DepED) in 2002 through DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program.

Through this, SMFI builds SM school buildings in grassroot communities, complete with basic furniture and equipment. More so, SMFI integrates specialized features to each SM school building to address the unique needs of their school recipients—some received rooms dedicated as a guidance office, a clinic, a mini-library, and some even got a water tank and a handwashing facility.

To date, SMFI has turned over more than 100 SM school buildings nationwide with the help of its partners, which share the same aspirations for the Filipino learners and teachers. One of which is the SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) - one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia. Since the project’s inception, over 90 SM school buildings out of the more than 100 were built through the social good collaboration with SM Prime.





Infrastructure for calamity prone areas

SMFI and SMPH ensure that the SM school buildings incorporate a disaster resilient design to guarantee the safety of the students, teachers, and other school personnel. Emergency lights at both staircases, and fire and earthquake alarm bells are also installed.

Principal Joji Buelvo, school principal of Basud Elementary School (BES) in Sorsogon City, shared the state of their school community before they accepted the fully furnished SM school building from SMFI and SM Prime in 2021: “Ang aming paaralan ay saksi sa maraming kalamidad. Kaya karamihan ng mga classrooms ay may kalumaan na, ang mga kisame ay malapit na bumagsak—talagang hindi na conducive for learning.”

“But through your [SMFI and SM Prime] donation, our BES learners now have a haven where we can nurture their young minds to be academically-ready and well-rounded members of the community,” Buelvo further expressed.



Addressing classroom shortage

The continuous rapid growth of the country’s population is taking a toll on schools—leaving the students, even the teachers, with overcrowded classrooms which affect learners’ academic performance.

In 2012, the Banisil National High School (BNHS) in General Santos City received its first SM school building. But being the only secondary school in Barangay Tambler, BNHS records a significant increase in their enrollment per year. With this challenge, SM Foundation decided to provide another edifice of hope for the sub-urban Muslim community in 2021, addressing the growing needs of BNHS learners and teachers.

BNHS then principal Shiela Balbon said, “Yung patuloy na paglobo ng population every year ay talagang naging suliranin namin.”

“Pagpasok ng 2020, nagkaroon ng COVID. So naisip ko baka hindi na matuloy. Pero itong SM Foundation, walang pande-pandemya sa kanila. Talagang desidido silang matugunan yung pangangailangan sa classroom ng mga estudyante,” she added.

“Our salute to our longtime partner, SM Foundation and SM Prime, for being so generous and proactive in providing us with school buildings that are conducive to learning. We are so grateful for your extended support to our school amidst the pandemic,” Balbon concluded.

SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School project. This social good initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide.

How to manage a dog's aggression

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If your dog has ever bitten or hurt someone, getting them help is critical. There are many ways to help manage the situation. You can use various options to reduce the dog's aggression and make them more obedient.

Amongst all the other methods, CBD for dog aggression is an easy way to reduce their anxiety, which might cause their anger.

Here are some ways you can manage your dog's aggression.

Understanding the Motivation Behind Aggression

If you're experiencing a dog who is aggressive towards people, it's essential to understand the motivation behind that behavior. Dogs are pack animals and have the instinct to protect their territory, food, and other resources from other dogs or people. Some dogs can be territorial of certain areas or objects (like toys) and possessive over what they see as theirs. Some dogs also feel protective of their owners or family members and may become aggressive when someone threatens them.

 
Socializing Your Dog

Socializing your dog is a lifelong process. It would help if you began socialization as soon as you get your new puppy, but the benefits of socialization can last a lifetime. Generally, dogs that do not receive enough early exposure to people and other animals are more likely to develop fear-based aggression later in life.

The best way to ensure your puppy has positive associations with other people, animals, and places is by teaching them at an early age that they can be comfortable in these situations. It's also essential for owners to understand how their behavior influences the dog's response when encountering something new or scary.

Before taking them outside their comfort zone, ensure they know they'll always be safe by rewarding them with treats when they see something new that makes them happy - like another animal or person!

 
The Power of Training

Training is one way for your dog to learn how to deal with stress and appropriately express itself. It can also help you understand each other's signals, which will help build trust between you and your pet.

If you're looking for some good training resources, check out these three popular options:

 
Exercising Your Dog

One of the best ways to control your dog's aggression is by exercising them. Exercise can be a fun way for you and your dog to bond, strengthen your relationship, and help them learn how to relax and get along better with others.

Exercise is also essential for physical health. Early morning walks are great for releasing pent-up energy from the previous day's nap, but if that doesn't seem like enough exercise for your pooch, try taking him jogging or hiking with you.

If they enjoy swimming, take them out on a boat; if they like playing chase games with other animals (or people), take them to the local park once or twice a week for fun outdoor time together!

 
Using CBD to Manage Animal Aggression

CBD is a naturally occurring compound found in the hemp plant. It is an effective treatment for various conditions, including anxiety and stress-related disorders.

CBD works by interacting with endogenous cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) in the endocannabinoid system; this interaction helps to reduce anxiety and alleviate symptoms of depression.

CBD for dog aggression affects their negative emotions that might otherwise cause an animal to act aggressively toward other animals or people. This makes CBD a natural alternative to medication when managing dog aggression issues.

 
Conclusion

With the right approach, you can manage your dog's aggression and help her become a more pleasant family member. The key is to be proactive about training and socialization from an early age.