Seven of Bohol’s Ten Outstanding Barangay Officials of the Year (TOBOY Awards 2009) are women which, according to award organizers, can indicate their sector’s gaining capacities in grassroot governance.

Two of them even clinched the top two honors for best barangay captains---Judith Virtudazo of Laca, Jagna and Esterlita Loresto of Pinayagan Norte, Tubigon in the third and first congressional districts, respectively.

The Bohol winners will compete against the Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor awardees for the regional honors in December, according to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Pedro Noval, Jr.

The TOBOY Awards in Central Visayas was established and has been jointly undertaken by the DILG-7 and Local Administration Development Program Alumni Association of the Philippines (LADPAAP), which regional president until now is Rep. Edgar Chatto.

It has since then gained support from the private sector like the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation and as many local government leagues such as the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

DILG-Bohol Director Rustica Mascariñas led the awarding ceremony also during the proclamation of the winners of the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards (LTIA), which cites the best barangay justice courts, at JJ’s Seafood Village here on Wednesday.

Of the six LTIA winning barangays, one is headed by a captain who is a woman, too.

Apart from the earlier-mentioned outstanding Bohol barangay captains, the other TOBOY awardees this year are barangay kagawads Nicasio Mellomida of Villa Aurora, Antequera and Ligaya Tadle of Poblacion Weste, Catigbian; treasurer Baby Pesidas of Moto Norte, Loon and Prima Clamucha of Del Carmen Weste, Balilihan; secretary Densita Sobrio of Asinan, Buenavista and Liza Bulaquiña of Triple Union, Catigbian; and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman Jess Anthony Piquero of Basdacu, Loon.

Tagbilaran City has two TOBOY awardees in the separate city category, namely, barangay kagawad Regidor Idayan of Poblacion III and SK chairman Ferome Jusgorge Almiñe of Mansasa.

The top two LTIA winners in the 1st-3rd class municipality category are the lupong tagapamayapa of Poblacion in Talibon under captain Urcelio Evangelista and Pooc Oriental in Tubigon headed by captain Emma Bangcoy.

In the 4th-5th calss municipality category, the top three awardees are the lupong tagapamayapa of Guiwanon in Baclayon under captain Adolfo Alo, Sr., Banban in Lila headed by captain Joven Hamoay, and Poblacion in San Miguel under captain Felix Nuez. Barangay Cogon in Tagbilaran City is the LTIA winner in the city category.

Chatto said he hopes that this year’s TOBOY edition will further motivate the barangay officials in Bohol to pursue excellent leadership and exemplary performance in their level.

As a TOBOY pillar, Chatto has been instrumental to institutionalizing and sustaining the annual selection. He also provided the cash awards this year.

Because of his Congress works, Chatto was represented to the awarding rites by his chief-of-staff, former Board Member Isabelito Tongco. Local DILG field officers witnessed the awarding.

Other invited guests Gov. Erico Aumentado and ABC-Bohol President Concepcion Lim were represented, respectively, by Antonieto Pernia and ABC-Bohol Auditor Maxi Rebosura-Ayco, also the ABC president of Antequera.

Chatto said that TOBOY will likewise encourage barangay leaders to innovate schemes for more effective services, what with their being in the very frontline of government.