Puerto Princesa City — The City Government of Puerto Princesa recognized exceptional champions of public health during the Puerto Princesa City Tandikan Awards 2025: Unwavering Health Champions, held on December 10, 2025, at Costa Palawan Resort.
The Tandikan Awards is a city-wide recognition program that honors individuals and barangays that demonstrate consistent, innovative, and people-centered health initiatives. It celebrates leadership that strengthens preventive care, improves access to health services, and ensures sustainable community-based programs, particularly at the barangay level.
This year, Barangay Maningning once again rose to the top after securing the Outstanding Barangay Award, the highest recognition conferred by the city. The award was received by Hon. CJ Kurt Dimalanta Rillo, Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Social Welfare of Barangay Maningning, marking a back-to-back victory following the barangay’s win in 2024.
The Outstanding Barangay Award represents the “best of the best,” chosen from 66 barangays in Puerto Princesa City, underscoring the barangay’s sustained excellence in health governance and service delivery.
Beyond the recognition, Hon. Dimalanta-Rillo was commended for his strong, hands-on leadership and clear vision for community health. His unique programs and initiatives, rooted in inclusivity, data-driven planning, and active community participation, captured the attention of evaluators for their measurable impact and long-term sustainability. Under his guidance, health programs in Barangay Maningning were not only implemented but institutionalized, ensuring continuity and consistency in service delivery.
Working closely with Punong Barangay Hon. Evangeline C. Aquino, Hon. Dimalanta-Rillo fostered a culture of teamwork, accountability, and innovation within the barangay. His leadership style emphasized empowering frontline workers, strengthening inter-agency coordination, and making health services more accessible to all sectors of the community.
Central to this achievement was the dedication of his health and social welfare team, composed of:
• Ma. Lourdes Janarilla, Midwife
• Mariel Eden Reynoso-Aquias, Nurse
• Elaine Joy Halipa, Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS)
• Diana Estanero, Barangay Service Point Officer (BSPO)
• Mary Grace Misajon, Barangay Health Worker (BHW)
• Herjen Abajar, Community Volunteer Sanitation Inspectors (CVSI)
• Annamarie Dadaeg, Barangay Secretary
• Ann Maroto, Barangay Treasurer
Their collective commitment to maternal care, nutrition programs, disease prevention, and grassroots health education played a vital role in elevating Barangay Maningning to the city’s top rank.
The Puerto Princesa City Tandikan Awards 2025 served not only as a recognition of excellence but also as a testament to how visionary leadership, effective teamwork, and community-driven initiatives can transform local health systems and set a benchmark for other barangays to follow.
