The City of Bago in Negros Occidental has set the standards in three of its success stories recognized in the Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL) Awards 2024 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 6 (Western Visayas) held in Iloilo City.

The city just south of Bacolod took the honors for Excellence in Disaster Preparedness, Excellence in Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts, and Excellence in Youth Development.

“This is part of the long list of feats of Bago City this year. The regional awards program focuses on measuring performance among local government units (LGUs) in the region,” a statement issued by the city government said.

For Excellence in Disaster Preparedness, the city was feted for its entry, “Elevating Information, Education, and Communication: Mobile Info Van on the Go.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office introduced the “Khan,” a mobile information van designed to deliver educational materials and disaster-related information directly to the communities.

“Equipped with a large screen and speakers, the infovan facilitates effective visual and audio communication, particularly in remote areas lacking access to modern media,” the media release said.

The “Booming GREEN AgriTourism: Cultivating a Sustainable Future for Bago City Tourism” was awarded for Excellence in Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts.

“This initiative transforms farmers into agri-entrepreneurs, maximizes farm potential, and promotes sustainable tourism, prioritizing the triple bottomline: Planet, People and Prosperity,” it added.

The Excellence in Youth Development award was given to the city for its program, “Leadership Communities (LeadCom) Bago.”

In this program, the central aspect was the creation of youth-led projects aimed at addressing community challenges, and during its first year, these projects positively impacted 2,215 community members led by 70 promising young leaders. (PNA)