THE BusinessMirror is enjoining all embassies, consulates, as well as economic and cultural offices to nominate their outstanding projects in the Philippines to “Mission: PHL’s” “Project of the Year Award.”
This was announced by the broadsheet’s publisher T. Anthony C. Cabangon who expounded that the Project of the Year is one of three major recognition awards of Mission: PHL that include the “Embassy of the Year Award” and the “Aid Agency of the Year Award.”
“The projects to be nominated in the Project of the Year Award help enliven the socioeconomic and cultural partnerships between the Philippines and its partner-countries around the world,” Cabangon said.
Embassies, consulates and economic and cultural offices are requested to submit either electronically transmitted or post-mailed nominations containing a project brief discussing the following: 1) project description; 2) project duration; 3) project reach or beneficiaries; 4) project cost; 5) alignment of the project with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022; and 6) project sustainability.
E-mailed nominations may be sent to bm.missionphl@gmail.com or by snail mail to the Mission: PHL Project Director, Philippines Graphic Office, Third Floor, Dominga Building (Annex), 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner de la Rosa Street, Makati City, 1200.
Only projects that are already being implemented or are “on ground” by December 31, 2017, are qualified for nomination. Deadline for submissions is on August 31, 2018.
The BusinessMirror will mount an information drive for the Project of the Year and will regularly publish supplements highlighting the said projects and their significant contributions to the Philippines.
Recognition for partner-nations
MISSION: PHL, the BusinessMirror Envoys&Expats Awards, was introduced to the diplomatic community, multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, as well as officials from various government agencies and members of the private sector and civil society on March 22.
Partnering with 10 government agencies, Mission: PHL will recognize nations and aid agencies that have helped spur the country’s growth and development.
During a recent signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the BusinessMirror and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia lauded Mission: PHL and remarked, “We are privileged to be a partner of the BusinessMirror in recognizing the efforts of our development partners through this [undertaking].”
Pernia added, “Our development partners’ success in implementing their programs in the Philippines is also our success. We believe that fostering a culture of collaboration and recognition will help all of us [to achieve] the country’s growth and development targets, especially through projects that are aligned with the strategies of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.”
The Neda, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), will represent the agencies of the Philippine government, which comprise the panel members of Mission: PHL. They will help determine the Embassy of the Year and the Aid Agency of the Year awards.
DFA Assistant Secretary J. Eduardo Malaya underscored the importance of the Philippines benefitting from international partnerships and cooperation: “Whether it is this administration, the previous [ones] or in the future, the international community is a major component of Philippine development efforts.”
Multisectoral, government partnership
PANEL members of Mission: PHL are composed of Assistant Secretary J. Eduardo Malaya from the DFA and Officer in Charge-Director Hazel Iris S. Baliatan of the Neda’s Public Investment Staff for the government, former Executive Vice President Henry J. Schumacher of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines for the private sector, Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana III of the Action for Economic Reform (AER) for the civil society, President and Dean Jikyeong Kang of the Asian Institute of Management for academe, Cristina Marie G. Aquino for the youth sector and columnist John Mangun for the BusinessMirror.
Eight government agencies have, likewise, partnered with the BusinessMirror to bestow individual recognition awards to nations and aid agencies in the following categories: Science, Technology and Innovation Award by the Department of Science and Technology, Environment and Biodiversity Award by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Investments Award by the Department of Trade and Industry, Infrastructure Support Award by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Agriculture and Fisheries Award by the Department of Agriculture, Education Award by the Department of Education, Visit the Philippines Award by the Department of Tourism and Transportation Infrastructure Support Award by the Department of Transportation.
During the initial meeting of the panel members, AER’s Sta. Ana opined that, once nominated, all nominees become a winner, as they are cited and their efforts are publicized.
“In other words, there are no losers,” according to Sta. Ana.
Image credits: nonoy Lacza