By Rachel Magday

Ranks Among Top 10 LGUs Nationwide

Nueva Vizcaya has once again been recognized as one of the country’s top-performing local government units after securing the SubayBAYANI Award for the second consecutive year under the leadership of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito.

The awarding ceremony was held on Nov. 26, at the Manila Hotel and was led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who lauded the awardees for their performance.

“Keep up the good work. Continue to show that the public can trust and rely on public servants,” the Chief Executive said.

Spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the SubayBAYANI national recognition program honors outstanding LGUs that excel in participatory governance, citizen engagement, and evidence-based monitoring of local infrastructure projects.

This year, 126 LGUs nationwide were cited as “Exemplars” for demonstrating strong coordination with their Local Project Monitoring Committees (LPMCs), maintaining transparent processes, and proactively engaging citizens in the oversight of infrastructure projects.

From this pool of 126 awardees, the Province of Nueva Vizcaya emerged as one of the Top 10 finalists as Top Overall Performers for 2025, recognized for showcasing outstanding breakthroughs in citizen participation, monitoring practices, system innovations, and measurable improvements in local infrastructure governance.

The infrastructure project highlighted for its sound implementation and clear results is the upgrading of the Jct. Nat’l–Bua–Bulala–Muta–Macabenga Road in Kasibu, a three-kilometer road improvement project with a total budget of P73 million implemented in two phases in 2019 and 2020 under the DILG’s CMGP program.

Provincial Engineer Jerry A. Tan said the entire stretch from Brgy. Bua in Kasibu to Brgy. Macabenga in Dupax del Norte was fully concreted in 2022 after the province invested over P166 million to complete more than 10 kilometers of road.

The improved route has made travel safer and faster, lowered transport costs for farmers bringing produce to NVAT, reduced spoilage, and improved access to schools, markets, and health services for residents.

“Our message is simple: infrastructure in Nueva Vizcaya is built right, monitored closely, and meant to serve our people,” Governor Gambito said.

“This SubayBAYANI recognition shows that when we follow standards and demand transparency, farmers earn more, students travel safer, and communities thrive.”

Anchored on DILG Memorandum Circular 2024-121, the SubayBAYANI Awards—named from the Filipino words subaybay (to monitor) and bayani (hero)—recognize the crucial role of LGUs in empowering communities to actively monitor public works and basic services.