At 7:00 pm, the Vice Presdient attended the Awarding Ceremony of the Galing Pook Awards 2018 and 4thJesse Robredo Leadership Award in Novotel Manila, Quezon City. It served as the culminating event of the two-day Galing Pook Governance Fair 2018. The fair this year focused on the role of the youth in governance. Galing Pook Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization that recognizes innovation and excellence in local governance through the Galing Pook Awards. The foundation has already expanded its programs to include recognizing local government leaders through the Jesse Robredo Leadership Award which was launched in 2012.

In her speech, the Vice President emphasized that a great nation starts with efficient local government units who are led by honest and hardworking officials. “Speaking as someone who has been exposed for most of my adult life to how both local and national governments work, this I can tell you: our nation’s future lies in local chief executives like you. Local leaders who practice honesty, accountability, transparency, and strive for excellence in everything that you do. In my opinion, building provinces, cities, towns, and barangays that are “magagaling na mga pook” is the one thing that will transform our nation into a first world country.”