The dawning of the Golden Age for Pangasinan has reintroduced the prominence of the province in National and Regional award-giving bodies.  It has likewise repositioned Pangasinan as one among the top provinces in the country whose good practices in terms of developmental governance are worth emulating.

Aside from the countless visitors (including high ranking national government officials and foreigners),  balikbayans,  common folk, and government employees who are one in saying that Pangasinan has indeed undergone complete metamorphosis in terms of physical manifestations,  numerous groups and offices tasked to gather and analyze data and outputs of organizations and local government units have distinctively recognized Pangasinan to be leading other provinces in various fields.  Among the more illustrious recognitions and awards given to Pangasinan recently are the following:

 

HALL OF FAME AWARDS

NATIONAL

« Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) (conferred by the Department of the Interior and Local Government)

« Quality Corn Achievers Award (conferred by the Department of Agriculture) for three consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

« Best Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO), First-Class Province Category (conferred by the Department of Labor and Employment) – National Champion (2012, 2013 and 2014)

« Agri Pinoy Rice Achievers’s Award (conferred by the Department of Agriculture) Champion from 2012 to 2014 Conferred by the REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RDC) for three (3) Consecutive Years Champion in Region 1

« Search for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest LGU – Province Category (2013, 2014, 2015)

« Best Performing Province of Region 1 – based on Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS). Three Years Consecutive
Champion. (2010, 2011 and 2012)

« Best Regional Development Agenda Project Implementer in Region 1 (2010,2011 and 2012)
2012 Entry – Construction of Sabangan Bridge in Lingayen, Pangasinan
2011 Entry – Construction of Pangasinan Training & Development Center
2010 Entry – Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital

« LGU Best Practices – Project Level in Region 1 (2010, 2011 and 2012)
2012 Entry – “Accelerated Certified Rice Seed Production and Distribution in Pangasinan Project”
2011 Entry – “Ilog Ko Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko”
2010 Entry – “Enhanced Hospital Management System”

« Best LGU Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Project Implementer (2010, 2011 and 2012)
2012 Entry – Construction of Lying-in Maternity Clinic, San Nicolas, Pangasinan
2011 Entry – Construction of 10-Classroom School Bldg., at Portic, Bugallon, Pangasinan
2010 Entry – Construction of 2-Classroom School Bldg., at La Paz Elementary School, Umingan, Pangasinan

« Best National Statistics Month (NSM) Province Implementer (2008, 2009, 2010)/(2014, 2015, 2016)

« Best LGU – Coastal Resource Management Program Implementer (2008, 2009 and 2010)

CY 2020

« International Best Employer of the Year (conferred by the Investors in People)

« Best LGU Advocate for Statistics (conferred by the Philippine Statistics Authority)

« Most Business-Friendly LGU Finalist (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

CY 2019

NATIONAL

« Pangasinan as 2018 Rice Achiever Award

“bilang isa sa mga piling nominado at sa kanilang mahalagang kontribusyon sa pagpapalawig at pagpapataas ng produksyon ng palay sa buong bansa, na siyang nagbubunsod ng kasapatan sa bigas ng mga mamamayan at pag-angat sa kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka ng palay sa kanayunan”

« Pangasinan received Certificate of Recognition from Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) for its exceptional support and relentless services rendered

« PAG-IBIG Fund Plaque of Recognition to Pangasinan as top employer in Government Sector, North Luzon

« Philippine Commission on Women certifies the Province of Pangasinan through its Pangasinan Crisis Intervention Center as a Gender and Development Local Learning Hub 2019-2022

« Balikat ng Bayan Award

 

CY 2018

NATIONAL

« Pangasinan as Silver Awardee of the 2018 National Drug Abuse Council Performance Awards as conferred by DILG

« Plaque of Recognition to Pangasinan Provincial Jail as one of the Top 10 Most Outstanding Provincial Jails of the Philippines as conferred by the Provincial Jail Employees Association of the Philippines (PJEAP), Inc.

« Certificate of Recognition as conferred by DILG for the Conditional Matching Grant to Province (CMGP) for Road and Bridge Repair Rehabilitation and Improvement Program for FY 2017 and 2018.

« 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance Awardee as conferred by DILG

«  “Katangi-Tanging Pagpupugay sa Lokal na Pamahalaan sa Pagsasakatuparan” ng Performance Challenge Fund as conferred by DILG

« Province of Pangasinan as Best Local Government Unit Advocate for Statistics conferred by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

« Finalist, 2018 Most Business Friendly LGU Award-Provincial Level by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)

« Plaque of Recognition was awarded by DOH declaring Pangasinan as “Malaria Free”

« Provincial Government of Pangasinan awarded as Best Servicing and Collecting Partner nationwide by the Social Security System (SSS)

« Pangasinan as Bronze Awardee of the Civil Service Commission’s Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (CSCs PRIME-HRM)

« Top PESO User and Advocate of PhilJobNet for First Class Province Category conferred by Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE)

 

REGIONAL

« Regional Champion as Best 29th NSM Province Implementer as conferred by RDC-RSC

« Pangasinan as the Most Outstanding Migrant Desk Office conferred by OWWA-R1

« Best PPMIU I-REAP (Provincial Project Management & Implementing Unit – Investment on Rural Enterprises for Agri-Fishery Productivity) Component in Region 1 conferred by Department of Agriculture (DA)

« Most Number of Non-PRDP (Philippine Rural Development Project) Funded Interventions in the PCIP (Philippine Commodity Investment Plan) in Region 1 as conferred by DA

« Most Number of of Approved I-REAP Sub-projects in Region 1 conferred by Department of Agriculture

« Highest Amount of Approved I-REAP Sub-projects in Region 1 conferred by Department of Agriculture

« Best PPMIU I-PLAN and the Best PCIP in Region 1 conferred by DA

« Most Efficient PLGU in terms of Procurement in Region 1 conferred by DA

« Most Efficient Province in terms of Completed I-REAP Subprojects in Region 1 conferred by DA

« Most Efficient Province in terms of I-REAP SP Approval (from Business Plan Preparation to Implementation) conferred by DA

« Most Efficient LGU in terms of Number of Completed I-REAP Sub-projects in North Luzon Cluster conferred by DA

« Plaque of Appreciation for Governor Amado I. Espino III for his committed support and active partnership in the Implementation of PRDP in Ilocos Region conferred by Department of Agriculture (DA)

 

CY 2017

NATIONAL

« Provincial Gov’t. of Pangasinan awarded as Best Provincial LGU-Partner in Luzon in the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Campaign conferred by POEA

« 2017 Agri Pinoy Rice Achiever’s Award conferred by Department of Agriculture

« 2017 National Quality Corn Awards as one of the four Outstanding Provinces in the Philippines (It is the 4th award of Pangasinan in similar category) conferred by Department of Agriculture

« Pangasinan Provincial Library ranked 4th in the Philippines for being in the Best Performing TECH4ED Center (Library Category)

« Pangasinan was recognized as First Level Standards in the Implementation of Residential-based Programs and Services conferred by DSWD Central Office

« Awarded the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance conferred by DILG

« Finalist, Most Business Friendly LGU Award (Province) conferred by PCCI

« 2nd Place, 2017 Search for Outstanding Public Libraries with Special Programs on the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage conferred by NLP, NCCA, NCLIS and PLAI

 

REGIONAL

« Most Improved Province in Region I in the 2017 Cities/MunicipalitiesCompetitiveness Index (CMCI) conferred by DTI-ROI, RCC-R1 & DILG-RO1

« Champion, Most Outstanding Project Monitor (Category B with 11-30 projects) conferred by RDC-Region I

« Best Regional Performer in Job Placement (Provincial Category) awarded by DOLE-Region I

« Best Regional Performer in the implementation of DOLE Integrated Livelihood & Emergency Employment Program awarded by DOLE-Region I

« Silver Level as Fully Functional Local Social Welfare and Development Office conferred by DSWD Region I

« Awarded the 2nd Hall of Fame Award as Best in National Statistics Province Implementer conferred by RDC-I / PSA-1

 

CY 2016

NATIONAL

« Outstanding Regional Partner in implementing BSP (Dagupan Branch) Advocacies for the Demonitization of New Design Series awarded by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

« Outstanding Regional Partner of BSP (Dagupan Branch) in the Conduct of Public Information Campaigns awarded by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

« Plaque of Appreciation given to Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. for his invaluable support and contribution to the Maritime Group particularly the numerous acts of goodwill, benevolence and utmost expression of generosity.

« Awarded the 2015 Seal of Good Local Governance conferred by DILG

« 3rd National Corn Achiever Award conferred by DA

« Diamond Awardee (TB-DOTS Clinic) for proper implementation of Intra-Hospital Referral and TB Case Findings given by DOH

« Awardee of the Civil Service Commission’s PAGASA Award as Provincial Rice Program Implementing Team

« 2nd Runner-Up 2015 Best Tourism Event – Festival Category for its Tourism Month Celebration conferred by ATOP-DOT

« 1st Runner-Up 2015 Best Tourism Month Celebration for its Pista’y Dayat Celebration conferred by ATOP-DOT

 

REGIONAL

« Champion, Best Poverty Reduction Program Implementer (Provincial LGU Category) conferred by RDC-Region I

« Champion, Most Outstanding Project Monitor (Category B with 11-30 projects) conferred by RDC-Region I

« Champion, Search for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest LGU – Province Category conferred by RDC-Region I

« Champion 2016 Best NSM Province Implementer in Region I conferred by RDC-Region I

« Best Regional Performer in Job Placement (Provincial Category) – DOLE Region I

« Best Regional Performer in the implementation of DOLE Integrated Livelihood & Emergency Employment Program – DOLE Region I

« Awardee of the Civil Service Commission’s PAGASA Award as Coastal Resource Program Implementing Team and Provincial Rice Program Implementing Team

CY 2015

NATIONAL

« Recipient of the 2015 Gawad Pasasalamat sa mga Kabalikat sa Pangisdaan in recognition of the province’s significant to fishery development, protection and conservation conferred by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

« National Champion, Best Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO), 1st Class Province Category

« Agri-Pinoy Rice Achiever Award awarded by Department of Agriculture (DA) This is the 3rd consecutive year the province received.

« 1st Runner-Up, for Best Tourism Month Celebration for its Best Tourism Event Festival awarded by ATOP-DOT

« Team Pangasinan: 3rd Runner-Up in 2015 Batang Pinoy – Luzon Leg

« Pangasinan Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PFPWD) for topping the 4th stage of Philippine Sports for the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) Paralympics National Games-Luzon Leg.

« Triennial Citation Award given to Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., for Promoting Scouting Movement

« Awarded the 2014 Seal of Good Local Governance conferred by DILG

 

REGIONAL

« Gawad Kalasag Exceptional DRRM Service Award (2015) for the province’s exemplary actions and unprecedented support in Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Rehabilitation

« Champion, Cleanest, Safest and Greenest LGU CY 2014 (Provincial Category) awarded by RDC-Region I. This is the 2nd consecutive year the province received.

« Champion, 2015 Best National Statistics Month (NSM) Province

« Most Outstanding Project Monitor for 2014 for the preparation of quality reports submitted on time allowing the province to put up quality performance and display exemplary support to the objectives of the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES)

« Awarded the Seal of Good Housekeeping – The Performance Challenge Fund 2014 from DILG. Second time award.

« Regional Winner and National Finalist in the 2015 Kabalikat Award (LGU Category-Provincial Level)

 

CY 2014

INTERNATIONAL

« Pangasinan Town (Bayambang) certified officially amazing longest barbecue awarded by Guinness World Records

 

NATIONAL

« Agri-Pinoy Rice Achiever Award awarded by Department of Agriculture (DA)

« Champion in protecting Carabao granted by Philippine Carabao Center

« Most Outstanding Province in the 2014 Agri Pinoy Quality Corn Achievers

« Most Outstanding Local Government Unit in Support to the Credit Surety Fund awarded by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (This is the 2nd consecutive year the province received)

« Outstanding Regional Partner in Currency Programs awarded by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

« Special Recognition from Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for the Search for the Most Business-Friendly LGU (Province Level) for 2014

« 1st Runner-Up (Balitok A Tawir) and 2nd Runner-Up (Pangasinan Tourism Week Celebration), Pearl Award for Best Tourism Event, Provincial Level sponsored by ATOP and DOT

« Over-all 2nd Runner-Up Batang Pinoy-Luzon Leg – Team Pangasinan

« 3rd Runner-Up in the Government Choral Competition staged by the Civil Service Commission

 

REGIONAL

« 2014 Best National Statistics Month (NSM) Province in Region I

« Best LGU (Local Government Unit) Poverty Reduction Program Implementer for 2013 evaluated by the Regional Development Council (RDC) – Region 1

« Champion: Cleanest, Safest and Greenest LGU CY 2013 (Provincial Category) awarded by RDC – Region 1

« Pangasinan II, Second Place in 2014 Region1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet Division of the Department of Education (DepEd)

 

CY 2013

NATIONAL

« Most Outstanding Local Government Unit in Support to the Credit Surety Fund

« Best PESO Nationwide

« Gawad Pagkilala Award for Ilog Ko, Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko Project, awarded by BFAR for its significant impact in the protection, conservation and sustainable development in the fisheries industry.

« 1st National Quality Corn Achievers Award awarded by the Department of Agriculture

« Certificate of Recognition, Best Practices in Internal Auditing – Provincial Level given by Association of Government Internal Auditors (AGIA)

« Best LGU Practice on the Drive Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates awarded by Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)

« 2012 Most Outstanding Accounting Office – Provincial Award Body Association of Government Accountant of the Philippines (AGAP)

« 1st Runner-Up (Balitok A Tawir) and 2nd Runner-Up (Agew na Pangasinan), Pearl Award for Best Tourism Event – Arts & Culture Category, Provincial Level sponsored by ATOP and DOT

« 2nd Runner-Up, Best in Tourism Month Celebration, Provincial Level

« 4th Place Search for Outstanding Children’s Services in the Phils. Public Sector, awarded by the National Library of the Phils.

 

REGIONAL

« 3rd Batang Pinoy Northern Luzon Leg

 

CY 2012

NATIONAL

« Western Pangasinan District Hospital as 2012 National Champion for the “Infant Young Child Breastfeeding Project” of DOH

« 2012 Most Outstanding LGU Farmer of the Philippines Awarded by Philippine JCI on January 2013

« National Rice Achiever’s Award given by the Department of Agriculture

« National Pearl Award (3rd Place) for Best Tourism Practices sponsored by ATOP and DOT

« Pangasinan Provincial Hospital as 2012 Third (3rd) Best Training Center for Dialysis nationwide.

« Pangasinan Provincial Library, Third Place – 2012 Search for Outstanding Provincial Library of the Philippines, sponsored by National Library of the Philippines (NLP), NCCA-National Committee on Library and Information Services and Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI)

« Special Citation – Most Business Friendly LGU

« Region I Winner – Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012 (Mother of All Awards) by DILG

« Champion, Search for the LGU Best Practices – Project Level in Region 1, entitled “Accelerated Certified Rice Seed Production and Distribution in Pangasinan Project” awarded by the RDC-RO1

« Regional Champion, Search for Best LGU Practices-Project Level in Region I awarded by RDC-RO1

« Best LGU MDG Project Implementer CY 2012 under the RPMES awarded by the RDC-RO 1

« 2012 Likas Yaman Awardee for Environmental Excellence for Best LGU-Initiated Environmental Project (Provincial Category – Reforestation Project) given by the DENR – Region I

« First Place, Best Project Implementer in Region I awarded by the RDC-RO 1

« First Runner-Up, Search for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest Province in Region I awarded by the RDC-RO I

« Passed – Level 1 Seal of Disaster Preparedness

“Bannuar Ti Amianan” (Heroes of the North) Award conferred to Provincial Disaster Risk Reductio and Management Council (PDRRMC Pangasinan), by the Office of Civil Defense/RDRRMC I, in grateful recognition for all the efforts in assisting the RDRRMC especially duirng TS “Helen”, Habagat & TY “GENER” disaster operations for the year 2012.

« Most Outstanding Human Resources Management Practitioner awarded by Civil Service Commission- Regional Office 1

 

CY 2011

INTERNATIONAL

« Pangasinan Provincial Health Office was awarded Plaque of Recognition for its exemplary commitment and active participation in the implementation of the Revised Pharmacy DOTS Initiative (PDI) 2010 under the TB LINC-PTSI Project in engaging the pharmacy sector as active partners in the DOTS Referral Network to control TB in the province by the DOH, USAID and the Phil. Tuberculosis Society, Inc.

 

NATIONAL

« Seal of Good Housekeeping conferred by DILG (Sec. Jesse Robredo) to the Province of Pangasinan in recognition of its efforts in advancing the principles of accountability and transparency in local governance

« National Champion – 2nd National Pag Asa Youth Summit held on May 16-20, 2011 @ Catarman, Northern Samar for having coveted most of the contested event during the 5-day Youth Summit, sponsored by Departmentof Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Office and the Province of Samar

« Plaque of Appreciation given to the Provincial Health Office of Pangasinan by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in recognition and appreciation to the support, commitment to, and partnership for the USAID’s Health Promotion and Communication Project

« Top 4 in Best Performing Provinces in the Country based on LGPMS

 

REGIONAL

« Hall of Fame Best National Statistics Month (NSM) Province

« Hall of Fame Coastal Resources Management Program

« Champion – Search for the Best LGU Province in Region I based on Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS)

« Champion – Best LGU Poverty Reduction Implementer awarded by the RDC-RO 1 Champion – Best Regional Development Agenda (RDA) Project Implementer (Provincial Training and Development Center) awarded by the RDC-RO1

« Champion – Best LGU MDG Project Implementer awarded by the RDC Region I (Project Entry: Construction of Portic IntegratedSchool, Brgy. Portic, Bugallon, Pangasinan)

« Champion, Search for the LGU Best Practices – Project Level in Region 1, entitled “Ilog Ko Bilayen tan Aroen Ko” Project awarded by the RDC-RO1

« Likas Yaman Award (River Clean-Up) given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Region I during the Environment Month Celebration Closing Ceremony

« First Runner-Up, Search for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest Province in Region I awarded by the RDC-RO I

« Top PESO Regional Performer and National Finalist (1st Class Province Category)

« Certificate of Recognition conferred to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) – Pangasinan, by the Office of Civil Defense/RDRRMC 1 for the immense contribution and laudable performance in disaster response, relief and rehabilitation operations in support to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 1 during the occurrence of Typhoons “Mina”, “Pedring”, and “Quiel” in Region I.

« Region 1 Most Outstanding Provincial Treasurer awarded by BLGF-DOF

« Best Performing PESO Manager in Region 1 awarded by Department of Labor & Employment

 

CY 2010

INTERNATIONAL

« Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Pangasinan Provincial Health Office by the United States Agency International Development (USAID) and the FHI360 in recognition of the invaluable partnership and the unwavering shared commitment to uplift the nutritional state of the Filipino mothers, infants and young children during the Nutrition Forum at the Century Park Hotel, Manila

 

NATIONAL

« Top 5 in Best Performing Provinces in the Country based on LGPMS

« Special Citation (Most Business-Friendly LGU Award) given by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Provincial Government of Pangasinan for its commendable efforts in adopting quality management services and instituting systems innovation, significantly benefiting its business community and citizenry during the 36th Philippine Business Conference

 

REGIONAL

« Champion – Best LGU MDG Project Implementer awarded by the RDCRegion I (Project Entry: Construction of Standard One Unit – Two Classroom School Building @ La Paz Elementary School, La Paz, Umingan, Pangasinan

« Champion, Search for the LGU Best Practices – Project Level in Region 1, entitled “Enhanced Hospital Management System” awarded by the RDC.

« Regional Overall Champion given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Region I during the Regional Youth Competition and Encampment

« Champion, Best LGU Poverty Reduction Program Implementer

« Best NSM Province awarded by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC)-Region I in the implementation of National Statistics Month Celebration activities

« First Runner-Up, Search for the Cleanest, Safest and Greenest Province in Region I awarded by the RDC-RO I

« Likas Yaman Award (Recycling Project) given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Region I during the Environment Month Celebration Closing Ceremony.

« Best Performing PESO Manager in Region 1 awarded by DOLE

 

CY 2009

NATIONAL

« National Champion on Garantisadong Pambata awarded by the Department of Health (Delivery of package of child survival services such as Vit.A supplementation, deworming, immunization and other health essential services to the most vulnerable groups like mothers and children)

 

REGIONAL

« Champion – Search for the Best LGU Province in Region I based on Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS)

« Best NSM Province awarded by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC)-Region I in the implementationof National Statistics Month Celebration activities

« Best NSM Activity in Region I awarded by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) for the best activity implemented during the National Statistics Month Celebration

« Best LGU-CRM Implementer awarded by the RDC-Region I in the implementation of Coastal Resource Management Programs

« First Runner-Up, Best LGU Poverty Reduction Program Implementer awarded by the RDC-RO 1

« Second Place, Best Regional Development Agenda (RDA) Project Implementer (San Quintin Provincial Nursery Project) awarded by the RDC-RO 1

« Top PESO Regional Performer and National Finalist (1st Class Province Category)

« Best Performing PESO Manager in Region 1 awarded by DOLE

« Top Grosser, Real Property Tax Collection in the Region

« Commendation given to ENRO-NRRG of Pangasinan by the Department of Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB) for excellent performance in the generation of Mining Statistics and Investment Data

 

CY 2008

NATIONAL

« Most Outstanding Accounting Office (Provincial Category) Awarded by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines (AGAP, Inc.)

 

REGIONAL

« Best NSM Province awarded by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) – Region I in the implementation of National Statistics Month Celebration activities

« Best NSM Activity in Region I awarded by the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC) for the best activity implemented during the National Statistics Month Celebration

« Best LGU-CRM Implementer awarded by the RDC-Region I in the implementation of Coastal Resource Management Programs « Best LGU MDG Project Implementer awarded by the RDC-Region I (Best Provincial LGU in the implementation of projects supportive of the Millenium Development Goals under the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System) Project Entry: Repair of 3-CL SB @ Ramon Magsaysay ES, Labrador

« Top PESO Regional Performer and National Finalist (1st Class Province Category)

« Number 1 Province in Health Governance

« Pangasinan Biggest Provincial PhilHealth Enrollment in the country

« First Runner-Up, Best LGU Poverty Reduction Program Implementer awarded by the RDC-RO 1

« Second Runner-Up – Search for the Best LGU Province in Region I based on Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS-CY 2008) awarded by the RDC-RO 1

« Best Performing PESO Manager in Region 1 awarded by DOLE