For his unwavering dedication to improving social welfare and development of Angeles City residents, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. was named “Outstanding Local Chief Executive of the Philippines, Highly Urbanized City Category for Luzon.”
The Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. (ALSWDOPI) has recognized the “strong political will” of Mayor Lazatin in enhancing the social welfare and development of his constituents.
In a letter dated April 13, 2024, ALSWDOPI National President Jhunleymar D. Abella said Mayor Lazatin’s “commitment to this cause is highly commendable and has not gone unnoticed.”
“The innovative programs and services of your administration in uplifting the general well-being of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of your locality are highly commendable which put your Gawad Parangal nomination for SWD Champions on top of the rank,” Abella said.
Mayor Lazatin will receive the Gawad Parangal Award for “Outstanding Local Chief Executive of the Philippines, Highly Urbanized City Category for Luzon” on May 15, 2024 at the Iloilo Convention Center, Megaworld Boulevard, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The awarding coincides with the ALSWDOPI’s 27th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly with the theme: “Unifying Forces: Local Government Units’ Catalyst for Collective Action, Social Movements, and Social Change.”
Since elected in 2019, Mayor Lazatin has put into motion a sustained social welfare and development that mostly benefitted the marginalized sectors of Angeles City. These programs had been mostly felt during the COVID-19 pandemic where Mayor Lazatin pushed social welfare and development programs along with interventions against the pandemic.
Mayor Lazatin has provided and continue to extend the P1,000 cash assistance to seniors, PWDs, and solo parents. Some 48,000 seniors had benefitted from this cash assistance.
No other government institutions had pursued rescue of the mentally challenged and their rehabilitation in hospitals before being reunited with their loved ones, including homeless street kids and elderly.
Among others, the local chief executive had provided 191 wheelchairs, medical assistance, medicines, assistance in hospital bills, provided educational assistance, and school supplies to public students amounting to P100 million per year.
Among others, Mayor Lazatin’s “Walang Plastikan” program where one kilo of plastic waste is replaced with a kilo of rice had already benefitted thousands of residents and even non-residents. Some 2.9 million kilos of plastic had been replaced with the 2.9 million kilos of rice.
It can be recalled that the late Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin had also accorded with the same Gawad Parangal Award in 2005, and 2006.