Three Bacolod City Councilors were among the top 20 recognized as Outstanding Councilors of the Philippines at the national assembly of the Philippine Councilors League at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City Friday.

Of the 20, the top 10 who were given awards included Lyndon Caña of Bacolod City, three councilors from Quezon City and one councilor each from Benguet, Bulacan, Iloilo, Southern Leyte, Mandaluyong, and Cebu.

Councilors Ana Marie Palermo was number 11, and Jocelle Batapa-Sigue was also among the top 20.

Caña is the chairman of the Committees on Environment and Ecology, and Trade, Commerce and Industry of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City.

The TOCP awards were given by the Junior Chamber International Philippines, in collaboration with the Philippine Councilors League and the Office of Senator Edgardo Angara.

Of the 13,124 councilors all over the country, 85 were nominated and screened to narrow the list to 20.

Ten were then chosen by a panel of six judges chaired by Dr. Melwida Guevara, chairperson of the Galing Pook Award Foundation. Members were Senator Edgardo Angara; Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno; Archbishop Deogracias Iniguez, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Bulacan Gov. Josefina de la Cruz; and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo.

They received trophies designed by Juan Sajib Imao, son of first Muslim national artist Abdul Mari Imao.

The office of Senator Angara also committed P100,000 worth of projects to be identified by the winners.

Caña, a Visayan DAILY STAR columnist, preacher, community leader and former college professor said he shares his honor with his colleagues in the past and present Sanggunian, the city council staff, as well as the people of Bacolod.*CGS

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