Laguna Governor Teresita “Ningning” Santiago Lazaro was recently conferred the Most Outstanding “Undefeated Governor of the Philippines” by the Gawad International, Inc. The presentation of award was held last September 1, 2007 at the Manila Pavilion Hotel in Ermita, Manila. The award is in recognition of her exemplary achievements in public service that have propelled the province of Laguna to greater heights, particularly the economic growth and development that was attained when Gov. Lazaro assumed her first tenure as Governor of the province way back in 2001.

       It was in Gov. Lazaro’s term when Laguna boomed and progressed tremendously becoming a business hub and a haven for various multinational firms. Right now Laguna is considered one of the nation’s fastest growing provinces. It is even dubbed as the Silicon Valley of the Philippines and the country’s Little Detroit. This made Laguna an attraction which complemented the province’s fame being the Resort Capital and Leisure Paradise of the country.

       The first lady chief executive of Laguna was formally elected governor of the province when she was proclaimed winner in the Laguna gubernatorial race during the May 2001 where she won by a landslide. Prior to that she already assumed headship of the province last January 31, 2001 being the then Vice Governor when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Governor Joey Lina as the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary. This was followed by her re-election for her second term in 2004 and just recently her last and final term after being re-elected again in May 2007 polls because of her successful public service to her fellow Lagunense.
 
       Being among the modernized agro-industrial provinces, Gov. Lazaro’s vision is to generate more employment for the province’s growing population where majority of her constituents are creatively employed enjoying the basic comforts of life such as housing, education, livelihood, enterprises, and socio-cultural and recreational facilities. For her, this mission is achievable if there is an over-all development effort by all the sectors of society to uplift the standards of living of the people. This will then create an environment conducive to greater agricultural and industrial productivity, and income making Laguna self-sufficient, self-reliant, and self-sustainable. 

       Right now, Gov. Lazaro’s development strategies, particularly her flagship 7-Point Agenda, are bearing fruits since through her enthusiastic and dynamic leadership; problems and concerns are being addressed such as poverty and unemployment. Indeed like what most people say, “Laguna Laging Una!” (PIO-Laguna)