The Galing Pook Awards was launched in October 21, 1993 as a pioneering program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by local government units. LGU finalists with outstanding initiatives are carefully selected and winners are recognized in a very prestigious awarding ceremony.

The awardees of the Galing Pook are chosen from a national search of local governance programs, evaluated through a multilevel rigorous screening process based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, innovation and adaptation, resilience, sustainability, and efficiency of program service delivery and transferability.

Beyond the awards, winning programs become models of good governance promoted for adoption in other communities. They provide useful insights and strategies to find innovative solutions to common problems. More importantly, they affirm the community and the local government’s commitment to good governance.

Since 1993, more than 330 programs from at least 200 local governments/local government alliances were awarded the Galing Pook. These awardees become very important advocates in inspiring other local governments to introduce innovative practices and provide a fertile environment for the replication of successful reforms.