BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development - Cordillera (DSWD – CAR) leads the 2023 Regional BAYANI KA! Awarding Ceremony on Wednesday (August 30) at the Orchard Hotel, Baguio City. This is part of the department's efforts  to uplift communities, empower individuals, and inspire hope.

The BAYANI KA! Award is the highest recognition given by the DSWD Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI – CIDSS) to exemplary communities and partners in implementing and promoting community – driven development.

Recognized as regional BAYANI awardees are the Kabataan Kontra Droga At Terorismo (KKDAT) of Tadian Mountain Province for the Just and Peace category; Pugo Women’s Association of Buguias, Benguet for Gender and Development; Barangay LGU and Barangay Development Council (BDC) Technical Working Group (TWG) of Laylaya, Besao, Mountain Province for Indigenous People’s Welfare; and Greener Pasture Ad Holnad Inc of Hingyon Ifugao for Environmental Protection;

Also awarded are the Youth Mobile Force Mountain Province for the Youth Advocate group; Besao Municipal Senior Citizens Organization for the Elderly Advocate group; Tadian Namnama Organization for the Person with Disability Advocate group; and the Barangay LGU of Camatagan, Sabangan, Mountain Province for Improved Local Governance.

Regional awardees in the eight categories each received Plaques of Recognition, P10,000 cash prize, and tokens.

Certificates of recognition, P7,000 cash prize, and tokens were also given to BAYANI KA Award finalist namely Barangay LGU of Ubao in Aguinaldo, Ifugao (Just and Peace); KALIPI Catengan  of Besao and BDC-TWG of Pandayan, Tadian (Gender and Development); IPs of Ambabag Kiangan Ifugao and Barangay LGU of Pingad Sabangan (IP’s Welfare).

Also recognized are the ONGA ABABWHUJUG Association of Tinglayan Kalinga and Mogao United Workers Association of Licuan – Baay, Abra (Environmental Protection); Federation of Senior Citizen of Tadian and Nabuangan Elder’s Association of Conner, Apayao (Elderly); Sinabanan Voice Organization of Tineg, Abra (PWD); BLGU Abatan of Hungduan, Ifugao and Association of Barangay Captains of Besao (Improved Local Governance).

DSWD - CAR Assistant Regional Director for Operations Amelyn Cabrera, in her welcome message during the ceremony, congratulated the awardees and expressed the department’s gratitude to the finalists and regional winners for their dedication and commitment as active partners for the KALAHI – CIDDS Community Drive Development projects.

“True heroism is doing something for the constituents, without asking any favor or votes or additional compensation. It is the innate desire and interest to help a person or a community rise from their present situation to a better quality of life. And that is the reason why we are recognizing you as the Bayani in your own communities," Cabrera stressed. (JPM/CCD/PIA CAR)