Page 29 - OGA 2013

Outstanding Governorship Award 2013

Governor Malanyaon left the comforts of the Capitol to play an active role in
building back better the three Typhoon Pablo-devastated towns.

Malanyaon, who envision a politics of cooperation and Love is the secret behind her appeal,” says an old-time
power-sharing, stunned many as she has successfully disarmed political player in the province, citing the two unprecedented
the economically and politically powerful old-rich families of elections here where no one contested the gubernatorial bid
Davao Oriental who did not put up a fight against her political of Malanyaon. A lawyer and a certified public accountant by
bid for a nine-year term as provincial governor. But what the profession, Malanyaon comes from a humble family and rose
people regarded most highly of the governor is her “good heart.” to fame for her exceptional performance both in the academe
Characteristically, Malanyaon will not do the bare minimum and politics. She is best known for effectively stopping the
required of her job as a public servant as she would always “shameless’ practices of publicity-hungry politicians who put
go the extra mile driven only by her genuine compassion and their names and pictures on government-funded programs
concern for the less fortunate. Her warmth and and projects and properties. “Public office is a
genuine empathy especially for the poor account But what the public trust. A public office is not a vehicle for
for her enduring fame among the masses. Despite people regarded personal aggrandizement, nor is it a license for
lack of funds, the governor during her first term in most highly of the abuse. A public office is not private property but
office was able to build a first-class public hospital one impressed with public accountability,” says
for the poor and give free health insurance to poor governor is her Governor Malanyaon.
families in the province. “The poor deserve as “good heart.” The Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper
much health care as the rich. The right to life is an aptly described her as a “Tiger Mama” for “she
inviolable human right… A government that cannot provide its knows her province’s historical and natural riches well. Like a
people with adequate health care has no reason for its existence,” fierce mother, she protects these wealth especially the mineral-
says the governor. “She always makes the poor people, like us, rich forests, keeping them from abusers and marauders. At the
feel special,” says an indigent patient at a government-run same time, she is willing to share them given these conditions
hospital here. that follow the environmentalist’s credo: Take only pictures,
Observers say the secret behind Malanyaon’s spectacular leave only footprints and kill only time.” The INQUIRER added
success in politics, from being a councilor in Davao City to a that Malanyaon “has the strength and sincerity of a proletarian
congressional representative and now a provincial governor, leader but whose aesthetic taste is that of an aristocrat.”
is her possession of the generosity of spirit to reach out and Observers cited several legacy projects of the governor which
truly embrace the people. “Everybody loves Cora Malanyaon. shows her true “taste, beauty and sociability,”

Gawad Saka Award Regional Grand Champion for two The province was also awarded with Regional and National
consecutive years (2010-2011) and National Awardee in 2011. Gawad Kalasag Best Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.

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