ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 4, 2013) – The Philippines has launched a nationwide search for the grand prize winner of the Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award 2013, officials said.
This year, the award will be conferred on a Local Government Unit, particularly a 4th-6th class municipality that has been involved in the field of population and development for at least three years prior to nomination.
Zamboanga Peninsula has a total of fourteen 4th class municipalities – 6 are in Zamboanga del Sur, 6 in Zamboanga del Norte, and 2 in Zamboanga Sibugay – and eight 5th class municipalities – Zamboanga del Sur and Sibugay has 1 each while 6 are in Zamboanga del Norte.
The award is designed to perpetuate the legacy of Rafael M. Salas by honoring and giving due recognition to local government units, local chief executives and institutions or individuals for their outstanding contributions in the field of population and development.
It aims to heighten support and participation among government, nongovernmental officials, individuals, or institutions in the implementation of the Philippine Population Management Program.
Salas was the first Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund and headed the fund from the time it became operational in 1969 until 1987.
Under his leadership, UNFPA grew from a small trust fund into the world’s largest multilateral provider of population assistance. He also served as United Nations Under-Secretary General.
A pioneer in the field of population, he was one of its first true international advocates, conveying to others the importance of understanding the crucial links between population and development and the need to take population factors into account in development planning.
The award has two levels, the regional and national. Under the regional level, the winner automatically becomes the region’s entry to the national level and any individual or organization can nominate.
Official nomination forms can be obtained from the regional office of the Commission on Population in Zamboanga City and all provincial, city and municipal population offices in Western Mindanao.
The grand prize consists of an 18k gold medallion and P500,000 cash grant.
Deadline for submission of regional nominees is August 15. The awards rite is scheduled on November 27 coinciding with the Population and Development Week. (With a report from Sisil Abuy)
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