Tabuk City, Kalinga (15 February) -- With an average of 88.25% rating, Gawaan Barangay from the Municipality of Balbalan grabbed this year's Healthy Barangay Award.

This was followed by Casigayan, Tabuk City with a rating of P86.33; Lubuagan Poblacion with 72.5%; Balinciagao Sur of Pasil with 62.17% rating and Poblacion Tinglayan with 56.17%.

The top three winners received cash prizes and plaque of appreciation during the celebration of the Kalinga Day. P50,000.00 for first prize, P30,000.00 for the seconf placer and P20,000.00 for the third.

Provincial Population Officer Florence Obar said that out of the eight municipalities of Kalinga, only five submitted their entries for the annual search which was conducted last January 28 to February 1, 2008.

Obar, who is also a member of the Evaluation Team, relates that since the province had been conducting the annual Healthy Barangay Search, there had been a significant improvement in the implementation of health, sanitation and social services programs in the different barangays of Kalinga.

Compared to previous years, she said that people from the barangays are now more aware of their responsibilities in keeping their communities clean and healthy. She cited the prevalent problem of astray animals and lack of toilets which are now being addressed.

"Most have come to realize the importance of penning their pigs, use of sanitary toilets, and the proper disposal of waste although we still observe the need to improve more in the fields of health and sanitation," she said.

Moreover, she said that the people are now also appreciating the value of team work in realizing their goals to improve and develop their barangays on their own.

Based on their observations, the evaluators have also specified recommendations to make better the implementation of health and sanitation programs in the barangays. These include proper waste disposal, improve drainage system, more organized record keeping, better water system, formulation of barangay ordinance against stray animals, and construction of sanitary toilets.