2022 15 June 2022, Cagayan de Oro City—Eight years after the first Pahinungod (tribute) was held on the same day in 2015, City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno led the City Government of Cagayan de Oro in paying tribute to the government and international agencies, institutions, organizations, and establishments that have been the city’s partners in building a more liveable, prosperous, resilient, innovative, and competitive Cagayan de Oro on the 72nd anniversary of its declaration as a chartered city.

In her welcome remarks, Local Economic and Investment Promotions Officer (LEIPO) Eileen San Juan said that the first Pahinungod was for establishments that had provided employment, education, and health services for 50 years or more, companies that spurred economic growth, and international agencies that helped improve the city’s competitiveness, resilience, and livability.

This year’s Pahinungod, she continued, is for institutions and organizations that have walked with the city on its journey to becoming one of the country’s top 10 Most Competitive Highly-urbanized Cities and the core city of the Philippines’ fourth and newest economic center: Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro.

Among the 78 pillars of the community honored during the hybrid event broadcast over Zoom and Facebook Live were national government agencies, business, professional, civil society, and non-government organizations, private companies, as well as academic, and religious institutions whose sustained support and partnership cut across various development areas and concerns encapsulated in Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno’s 8-point development agenda, namely:

  1. Peace and order and poverty alleviation;
  2. Resilience and revenue generation;
  3. Infrastructure and investments;
  4. Metropolization;
  5. Education and environment;
  6. Health and hospital services;
  7. Agricultural productivity; and
  8. Traffic, transportation, tourism, and teamwork.

“Thank you can never be enough,” Mayor Moreno emphasized in his message. “The best way to express our deep gratitude is to support the incoming administration and build on our gains,” he continued. “Without you, Cagayan de Oro will not be what it is today.”

Leading a toast to the honorees, the Mayor said, “Progress and prosperity are always beautiful to achieve but they do not come free. They are a result of teamwork, harmony, commitment, determination, and co-ownership, and all of you who have supported us in each and every way throughout these nine years of struggle, tears, happiness, and fulfillment!”

In conclusion, he proposed a toast to, ‘The success and continued growth and prosperity of Cagayan de Oro!”

In her response on behalf of the honorees, Ms. Milwida Guevara, President and Chief Executive Officer of Synergeia Foundation, Inc., thanked the Mayor for championing education and earning the city Synergeia’s Seal of Good Education Governance for four years in a row. “You are an eagle,” she said. “Fly higher and higher because the sky is yours.”

 

The evening ended with a surprise tribute to Mayor Moreno whose pursuit of “kurambos” (Visayan term for partnering and pooling resources) as the only way towards effective public service served as the substrate for these partnerships to blossom.

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