THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has chosen Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda as its 2022 UNESCO Club Outstanding Public Servant in Good Governance for his achievements and advocacies aligned with the “ideals and thrusts of the international body.”
Salceda, a veteran public servant is set to receive the award on December 11 at the Bayview Hotel, Manila. He has been a frequent awardee of various national and international organizations.
Now on his third and last term as member-lawmaker of the House of Representatives, Salceda chairs the chamber’s Committee on Ways and Means. He had brilliantly crafted legislations that have revolutionized the country’s educational system and strengthened the economy, among others.
Among the most notable legislations he had crafted were the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10939), and the packages of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Programs — the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (RA 10963); the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises” or CREATE Act (RA 11534), and the pending Real Property Valuation Reform Act and Financial Intermediary Taxation Bill.
The new award he will receive aims to acknowledge the accomplishments and undertakings of UNESCO Club Public Servants who “endeavor to pursue the principles of UNESCO; invigorate other youth organizations, LGU’s, NGO’s and school-based organizations about the attributes of a UNESCO Club Youth Leader that exceptionally exemplify the standards compliant with the values and principles of UNESCO in promoting cultural diversity and contributing to peace and human development;”
“Appreciate the exemplary pioneering initiatives and noble struggles of youth leaders who have contributed to advancing the direction of UNESCO; educate the general public about everyday examples of achieving UNESCO’s objectives which thereby advance community empowerment toward development; and recognize LGUs that have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in governance, administration, social services, economic development, and environmental management.”
Among UNESCO’s 2022 awardees are public servants and local government units, non-government organizations, school-based groups, and youth organizations. The Albay Young Farmers Program (AYFP), a youth group that Salceda organized in his province, is also set to receive the accreditation certificate as a UNESCO Club member during the event.
Albay was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2016, and is now one of only three sites in the country bearing the title, which materialized through Salceda’s efforts when he was its prvincial governor.
In a separate statement, the agency said that as a global grassroots movement, UNESCO Clubs support the organization’s priorities by using their communities’ own experiences, skills, and outlook to foster peace; as well as groups of people of all ages, from all walks of life and background who firmly believe in UNESCO’s ideals.