‘Dagitoy awards iti Balbalan, bagi iti umili’ – Balbalan Mayor Almar Malannag about the town’s achievements

Balbalan, Kalinga—In recent years, the Balbalan LGU has accumulated several awards and accomplishments from various award-giving bodies and agencies—this, according to Mayor Almar Malannag, is not his own but the people’s.

Talking before the iBalbalans on March 21, 2025, during the 17th Manchachatong Festival celebration, Mayor Almar Malannag highlighted that the accolades received by Balbalan LGU are not his nor the LGUs, but rather the entire ‘umili’ of Balbalan.

Malannag said the achievements happened because the townspeople had unity, hard work, and harmonious collaboration.

Among these notable citations received by the municipality include the mother of all awards for LGUs, the Seal of Good Local Governance, which was conferred to the town in December 2024. This is the second SGLG awarded to Balbalan, the first one was in 2016.

Apart from the SGLG, Balbalan earned the ‘Beyond Compliant’ citation for the Gawad Kalasag 2024, Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governances National Award 2024, High Performing Peace and Order Council, and the Good Financial Housekeeping 2024, among others.

It is also worth noting that Balbalan was reclassified from 3rd class to 1st class municipality last year.

“Dagitoy ket awards iti umili, awards iti taga Balbalan. Amin daytoy ket nagrigatan iti amin, awan iti award nga umay kada tayo nu haan gapu iti cooperation ken panagmaymaysa tayo ta awan iti award nga magatang,” Malannag emphasized in his message, saying the citations are not recognitions of the mayor, but the entire municipality.

Malannag added that what the iBalbalans are displaying now are the practices passed down by their forefathers.

“Adda iti deeply-rooted nga ugali iti iBalbalans nga haan pulos magatang ken masukatan. Isu nga let us continue following dagitoy ugali nga inpasa kadatayo dagiti ancestors tayo,” the mayor expressed.

Malannag wrapped up his message by enjoining every iBalbalan to uphold the values and practices passed down by the ancestors to pave the way for more progress in the municipality.