The Province of Antique is among the top three in the delivery of social services in the region.  The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Region 6-Western Visayas search for Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL), awarded the province the second runner up in the Excellence in Social Services December last year.

            In 2006, Antique under Gov. Sally Z. Perez was finalist in a similar national Local Government Leadership Award initiated by former DILG Secretary and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, the Father of Philippine Local Autonomy and Decentralization.            

            The Excell Awards is an annual program of the DILG and co-sponsored by the Philippine Councilors’ League and other government agencies.

            To show the viability of the local autonomy and decentralization under the Local Government Code since its approval ten years ago, DILG regional office conducst a yearly search. The 2009 search showcased the outstanding achievements of local governments in the areas of administrative governance, social services, economic development, and environmental management for the period July 1, 2008 to June 20, 2009.  

            The Province, City and municipality (categorized to classes) which are outstanding in all or many of the above areas, are awarded the excellence award and are cited with excellence performance in that certain area.

            The awards have been observed to encourage advocacy for transparency and accountability in governance, positive reinforcement for good performers, popularizing replicable best practices and educating the citizenry on excellence in governance.

            In Antique where Gov. Perez governance has to contend with the “politics of belligerence and obstruction”, her administration’s success in the delivery of social services is a real challenge.

            Incessantly assailed by her detractors on health woes, Perez successfully maintained Provincial Hospital, the only third level in the province and almost started its modernization if not for her political enemy blocked the P100 million bank loan by resorting to technicalities.

            Various programs contributed to and with the approved budget of P6.3 million, a total of 32,120 indigents have been enrolled or an increase of 499% from 6,437 enrolees last year thus, achieving Universal Health Insurance Coverage, the first time ever in Antique’s history.

            Accustomed to resourcefulness, some of her administrative key men designed strategies to fill up the deficiencies caused by budgetary constraints.

            One of these is the Provincial TB Control Program or Public-Private Mix Directly Observed Treatment (PPMD-DOTS), a partnership of public and private care providers against tuberculosis focusing on Direct Observed Treatment for short course chemotherapy. This project is one of the awardees in the Regional Development Council Search for Provincial Public Sector Project.

            Another originality, the Uligmat Antiqueño (Vigilant Antiqueño), a self-reliant Disaster Preparedness Program was also cited as one of Finalists during the 3^rd RDC VI Search for Best Public Sector Projects Awards. The PDCC conducts trainings, hazard assessment and installation of early warning systems in disaster prone municipalities.

            Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) made it to the top, with Seven Kalasag Awards, being adjudged as one of the Best Provincial Coordinating Councils in the country.

            Broderick  Train, Deputized Civil Defence Coordinator of the PDCC Antique, was awarded the Excellence for Humanitarian Assistance in Individual Category and P50, 000 cash prize.