Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. was honoured with the prestigious title of Outstanding Provincial Governor of the Philippines for the Visayas by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines Inc. (ALSWDOPI) which is a testament to his unwavering commitment to uplifting the lives of the Ilonggos.
The award was conferred during the Gawad Parangal 2024 as part of the 27th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly on May 15, 2024, at the Iloilo Convention Center which gathered more than 2,000 key players in the field of social welfare and development. It was graced by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
Defensor was joined by Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office personnel Ann Rapunzel Ganzon and Rani Melvi Cuarte in receiving the recognition.
The Iloilo governor is the lone winner for the said category, with the recognition symbolizing his remarkable performance as a local chief executive in promoting inclusivity and progress in the province of Iloilo.
Governor Defensor dedicated his award to the key players in the implementation of social welfare programs such as the social workers, the municipalities, and the barangay functionaries who collaborated with the provincial government in building a better community.
“This award is not only mine. This is yours, too,” Defensor said.
Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, the governor also thanked the social workers who served as frontliners during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout his tenure, Defensor has championed several initiatives and received commendations for addressing the needs of the marginalized sector under his Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally-Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo (MoRProGRes ILOILO) development agenda.
In 2022, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI awarded Defensor as Social Protection Executive Champion for his outstanding performance and valuable contribution to the success of the DSWD HIV and Human Rights Caravan and the Implementation and Devolution of the Psychosocial Care and Support Services for PLHIV, Affected Families, and At-Risk Communities in the Province of Iloilo.
The National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) also recognized the governor for his leadership in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and disability inclusion in local governance.
Under his tenure, the province of Iloilo was recertified by the Philippine Commission on Women and Development as a Local Learning Hub for 2023-2026.
(Capitol News)
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