CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — Local government units (LGUs) across Central Luzon were recognized for their outstanding achievements in transparent and people-centered infrastructure development during the 2025 SubayBAYANI Awards cum Infrastructure Governance Expo held at the Royce Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone on December 10.
Anchored on the theme “Celebrating Excellence and Showcasing Impactful Infrastructure Governance,” the event highlighted LGUs that excelled in implementing local infrastructure projects while upholding standards of participatory governance, citizen engagement, and transparency.
The Top 9 SubayBAYANI Awards, the highest distinction of the event, recognized LGUs for excellence in their Most Significant Change stories and the sustainable impact of their infrastructure projects across three categories.
In the provincial category, the Provincial Government of Bulacan ranked 1st, followed by the Provincial Government of Aurora in 2nd place and the Provincial Government of Bataan in 3rd.
In the municipal category, Hermosa, Bataan claimed the top spot, with Carranglan, Nueva Ecija placing 2nd and Capas, Tarlac coming in 3rd.
For the city category, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija was awarded 1st place, followed by the City of Angeles in 2nd and Tarlac City, Tarlac in 3rd.
Recognition was also given to the Top SubayBAYAN-compliant LGUs, honoring local government units that demonstrated exceptional performance in implementing the SubayBAYAN system, the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) infrastructure monitoring platform.
This award highlighted their strong commitment to timely and accurate updates on the SubayBAYAN portal, ensuring that reports and data entries met high standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
In the municipal category, the Municipality of Bustos in Bulacan led the rankings, followed by the Municipality of Candelaria in Zambales in 2nd place and the Municipality of Carranglan in Nueva Ecija in 3rd.
Among cities, Tarlac City topped the list, with the City of Angeles placing 2nd and the City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan ranking 3rd.
For provincial offices, DILG Zambales secured 1st place, followed by DILG Aurora in 2nd and DILG Tarlac in 3rd. The Best Miniature Model was conferred on DILG Bulacan.
DILG Office of Project Development Services Director Alfonso Maralli Jr. emphasized the agency’s commitment to transparency in local infrastructure governance.
“We’re taking concrete steps to open government processes to greater public participation and scrutiny. These mechanisms strengthen the link between national priorities and local realities, ensuring that the story of progress is both visible and verifiable,” he said.
He added that true heroism in governance lies in always doing what is right and placing service above self-interest, principles that the SubayBAYANI Awards continue to uphold.
“Every effort we make under this program aims to protect the trust of the people given to us. At DILG, we serve as the guardian of that trust, ensuring that local infrastructure development remains a tool for empowerment, not for exploitation,” Maralli noted.
DILG Regional Director Araceli San Jose lauded the awardees for demonstrating that public office is a public trust.
“Our dear awardees, you have shown that good governance is not a mere idea. Good governance is truly achievable, measurable, and visible when leaders like you commit yourselves fully to the people we serve,” she said.
San Jose also noted that amid public awareness of corruption issues, recognizing exemplary local governments remains both necessary and significant.
“A SubayBAYANI is more than a project implementer. A SubayBAYANI is a guardian of public resources, a champion of transparent implementation, and an example of how local governments can rise above systemic issues and prove that honest service is not only possible but also powerful,” she added.
The 2025 Central Luzon SubayBAYANI Awards and Infrastructure Governance Expo underscored the region’s commitment to transparent, inclusive development and its role as a model for exemplary infrastructure governance in the Philippines. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
