TACLOBAN CITY – Barangay San Vicente has been named the overall champion of Matag-ob’s 2026 BGT Care Awards, earning a P2-million development project from the municipal government for its performance in governance and community development.
The award was announced during the municipality’s recognition program honoring barangays and schools that excelled in governance, education, environmental protection, agriculture, disaster preparedness, peace and order, and other areas of community development.
Mayor Bernardino Tacoy said the awards recognize the accomplishments of barangay officials and school personnel while encouraging them to further improve public service.
“Ang inyong award, diri lamang premyo it is a recognition and effort as barangay leaders, and more importantly it is a responsibility to continue doing better,” Tacoy said.
He stressed that the BGT Care Awards should not be viewed simply as a competition among barangays, saying improvements in individual communities contribute to the overall development and resilience of the municipality.
“When one barangay improves, Matag-ob improves. When one barangay become more resilient, responsive, and innovative, our entire municipality becomes stronger,” he said.
San Vicente also received the Responsable Pag-atiman sa Kalikopan Award, together with San Vicente Elementary School, and the Agrikultura Award in both the barangay and school categories. The barangay also won the Kalinaw ug Kahusay Award.
Other barangays and schools were recognized in various categories.
Tacoy also announced the start of the 2027 BGT Care assessment cycle and urged barangays to raise their standards in governance, responsiveness, transparency, innovation and accountability.
“Let us remember that every product, every peso, every decision, and every service must ultimately answer one simple question, makatabang ba kini sa atong katawhan?” he said.
Tacoy said the program is ultimately aimed at strengthening public service and improving the lives of Matag-ob residents.
“Public service is not about recognition, it is about responsibility. It is not about who gets the biggest award, it is about who makes the greatest difference in the lives of our fellow Matag-obanon,” he said.
The Barangay Governance Tracking–Community Assessment and Reward System (BGT-CAReS) is an initiative of the Matag-ob municipal government that assesses and recognizes barangay accomplishments in governance and community development.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
