PILI, Camarines Sur — Governor Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte Jr. and the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur earned multiple distinctions during the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Camarines Sur’s Isarog Luminary Awards, held on June 15, 2026, at the Digital Transformation Center, Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur.
The awards ceremony recognizes outstanding local government units, individuals, and partners for exemplary performance and unwavering dedication to public service across the province.
Governor Villafuerte received the prestigious “𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗼” distinction — an award that honors 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, demonstrating integrity, decisiveness, people-centered leadership, and a clear vision toward shared goals and sustainable development. The recognition affirms the governor’s longstanding commitment to transformative governance and responsive leadership that continues to drive progress across Camarines Sur.
“It is a big honor to stand before you today — hindi lang bilang gobernador ng probinsya ng Camarines Sur, kung hindi bilang kasama po ninyo — a fellow public servant na naniniwala na ang tunay na pamamahala ay sinusukat hindi sa salita, kung hindi sa aksyon,” Governor Villafuerte said during his acceptance speech.
The governor emphasized that the recognition is not his alone — it belongs to every Camarinense who trusts and believes, and to every public servant quietly serving without expectation of applause.
The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur likewise earned three separate awards, underscoring its broad and consistent excellence across multiple areas of governance:
• 𝗚𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮 — awarded to local government units that demonstrate excellence in governance, accountability, and inclusive development, going beyond the basic standards of public service.
• 𝗚𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗴-𝗨𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 — recognizing the Provincial Government’s innovative initiatives and programs that create meaningful, positive impact on communities, embodying the values of ISAROG through dedication and effective service delivery.
• 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗽-𝗗𝗶𝘄𝗮 — honoring the Provincial Government’s strong commitment, through its Local Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Their Children (LCAT-VAWC), to protecting the dignity, rights, and welfare of women, children, and other vulnerable sectors.
Two department heads and one focal person of the Provincial Government also received individual recognition through the “𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼” award: Lucena Bermeo, department head of the Environment, Disaster Management, and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO); Leah Yamson,
department head of the Provincial Budget Office (PBO); and Marilyn Niebres, focal person of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
“Ang [Mt.] Isarog ay matatag, nakatayo, binabantayan ang buong Kabikolan. Ganoon din dapat ang ating pamamahala — hindi natitinag, may direksyon, at laging nakaharap sa taong bayan,” the governor added, drawing a parallel between the province’s steadfast leadership and the majesty of Mt. Isarog.
The governor closed his speech with a call to collective purpose: “𝗔𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗼 — 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝗴-𝗶𝗶𝘀𝗮. Bawat parangal dito ay nagpapaliwanag ng landas para sa kapwa LGU. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.”
The Provincial Government was also recently recognized by DILG CamSur for passing the 2025 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) assessment, reflecting its commitment to transparency, accountability, the Full Disclosure Policy, and the prudent management of public funds.
The multiple recognitions reinforce the Villafuerte administration’s track record of excellence, innovation, and service to the people. As the provincial government looks ahead, it remains steadfast in its mission to deliver meaningful programs, uphold the rights of every citizen, and build a more progressive and inclusive Camarines Sur for generations to come.
Source: Province Of Camarines Sur