Batanes Wins HDN-NEDA-UNDP Awards
From "Congressional Updates"
(Vol 1 No. 1, September 1996, Philippines

Batanes once again surprised the country by winning awards in two out of three categories during the Human Development awards last July 26 at the Mandarin Hotel. The event was sponsored by the Human Development Network (HDN), the National Economic Development and Authority (NEDA) and the United Nations development Program (UNDP).

President Fidel Ramos personally handed out the awards assisted by HDN president Solita Collas-Monsod, NEDA Director-General Cielito Habito, UNDP Representative Kevin MacGrath and Corazon Juliano-Soliman of PhilDHRRA. Batanes won the "Most Promising Provincial Award" on its strong potential for promoting human development among its people, as measured by investments or expenditures in elementary and secondary education, primary health care, low-cost water supply, sanitation, nutritional support and family planning. Those in the top 10 after Batanes are Catanduanes, Siquijor, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, Lanao del Norte, Batangas, Davao Oriental and Ilocos Sur. (See table below).

Batanes also received an award coming in number 5, after the highly urbanized provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal for the "Best Achievement in Human Development", which measured actual performance in life expectancy, functional literacy, and income levels.

Rep. Florencio B. Abad, Ms. Celerina M. Navarro and Mayan Elementary School Principal, Maria Gordo, received the awards in behalf of the province.

In his recognition speech, Ramos, pointing to the performance of Batanes, emphasized that it is possible to achieve high levels of achievements in the various indicators of human development even in the face of isolation, severe resource limitations and natural calamities. "Look at Batanes!", he emphasized.

After the awarding ceremonies, Ramos invited representatives of the provinces recognized for a closed-door session on how the government may continue to support efforts of the province in promoting human development. Abad took the opportunity to present to the president priority human development concerns of the province.

TOP PERFORMER
Human Priority Expenditures Per Capita
1993-1994
	Province	1993 in Pesos	1994 in Pesos	Average in Pesos
1.	Batanes	619.72	923.67	729.57
2.	Catanduanes	135.85	166.29	143.49
3.	Siquijor	101.06	166.22	126.06
4.	Ifugao	100.19	154.60	70.85
5.	Kalinga Apayao	64.28	74.01	65.77
6.	Lanao del Norte	52.43	78.12	62.88
7.	Batangas	22.39	101.23	57.20
8.	Davao Oriental	49.79	68.64	56.08
9.	Isabela	98.09	11.35	54.20
10.	Ilocos Sur	5.88	90.28	43.95