Manila:President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday celebrated outstanding local government programs that have addressed community needs through innovative solutions. He encouraged local government units (LGUs) to sustain their achievements and continue enhancing public services.

According to Philippines News Agency, during the 2026 Galing Pook Awards ceremony at Malacañan Palace, Marcos praised the 10 awardees for their initiatives in tackling local issues and delivering significant results for their communities. He expressed hope that these programs would motivate other LGUs to implement innovative strategies and emulate successful governance practices.

Marcos emphasized the importance of innovation, highlighting that there is always potential for improvement. He urged the awardees to use this recognition as inspiration to achieve more, whether through technology or improved governance methods. He also congratulated the finalists for their contributions to their communities through dedication to public service and innovation.

The 2026 Galing Pook Awards, themed 'Islands of Hope Local Innovations, National Inspiration,' recognized exemplary local governance programs selected through a nationwide search and rigorous evaluation process. The programs were assessed based on their impact, public participation, innovation, adaptability, resilience, sustainability, service efficiency, and potential for replication.

The awardees included Project Denguerra - War on Dengue (Baguio City), Bataan E-Mobility (Bataan province), Iloilo City Action and Resilience (ICare) Center (Iloilo City), One Name, One Identity Walang Maiiwan Pagayawan (Lanao del Sur), and KABAHAGI (Quezon City), among others. This year, the awards received 208 entries, with 207 deemed eligible. After evaluations, 34 programs were shortlisted for field validation, and 19 advanced to the finals, where they presented their programs to the Board of Judges.