BY IME SORNITO, MAE SINGUAY & DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
ILOILO – Thirty-five local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas are 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) passers.
Last weekend, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) released a list of 493 LGUs. In the region, the SGLG passers are the following:
* For Province – Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental
* For Highly Urbanized City – Bacolod City in Negros Occidental
* For Component City – Passi City, Iloilo
* For City – Cadiz City, Escalante City, Himamaylan City, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Talisay City and Victorias City in Negros Occidental
* For Municipalities – Aklan (Banga, Buruanga, Ibjay, Kalibo, Malay, and New Washington); Capiz (Dumarao); Guimaras (Nueva Valencia); Iloilo (Anilao, Bingaan, Concepcion, Lambunao, Mina, and Pavia); Antique (Barbaza, Caluya, Livertad, Patnongon, San Remigio, and Sibalom); and Negros Occidental (La Castella and Manapla).
“We laud your efforts in embodying good governance and raising the bar of excellence in public service,” the DILG-6, headed by director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero, CESO IV, said in a statement.
The awarding ceremony will be held on Dec. 13–14 in Metro Manila to celebrate the defining moment of “Tapat at Mahusay na Pamamahala.”
Iloilo Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias said he is elated that all the efforts of the provincial government headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and department heads and employees paid off.
“All the painstaking hard work has now been recognized. Thank you Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. for really working hard and pushing all of us to deliver the required deliverables in compliance with the minimum requirements of the stringent criteria of the recognition and for articulating the sentiments of the League of Provinces to the attention of the DILG and Bureau of Local Government Finance,” Banias said.
Iloilo received its 5th SGLG citation in 2022. The province passed the SGLG assessment in the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
“SGLG is the standard set by the DILG. If we follow it, then you can say that you are practicing good governance. Again, good governance is not an objective, it is a standard. It is a modality,” Defensor said, who also cited the collective efforts of municipal mayors, barangay officials, partner national government agencies, the Ilonggos, and members of the media.
With that, Defensor added, the provincial government’s mission and vision in the next three years is “to have a local government unit that provides equitable distribution of the resources and opportunities in the province through good governance.”
The SGLG award also serves as the basis for granting the performance-based bonus (PBB) to government employees.
On his part, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he is proud of the city’s achievement, which reflects everyone’s commitment to good governance.
“This esteemed recognition is a clear affirmation of the diligent efforts, unwavering dedication, and exemplary governance exhibited by the entire city government, including its hardworking employees,” the city Public Information Office said in a Facebook post.
In Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said capitol employees did not receive a PBB this year after the province did not pass the 2022 SGLG.
However, Dias said he is hopeful for the coming year.
The LGUs that passed the 2022 SGLG and were capable of providing PBB this year include the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Talisay, and Hinoba-an town.
Meanwhile in Antique province, local chief executives expressed their gratitude for receiving the highest award conferred by DILG.
“Ang muling pagkapanalo ng ating pinakamamahal na bayan ng Caluya ay isang napakalaking regalong maituturing. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga tumulong, nagpuyat, at nagbahagi ng kanilang kaalaman at kahusayan,” said Mayor Rigil Kent Lim of Caluya.
Meanwhile, Mayor Margarito Mission Jr. of San Remigio said this is the first in the town’s history.
“For the first time in the history of our town, after 158 years, finally, the highest award given by DILG, we got it,” he said and thanked all department heads, the Department of Education, the Philippine National Police, LGU employees, and the entire people of San Remigio.
“This is for you; what a wonderful Christmas gift,” Mission added.
What is SGLG?
Dubbed as the “mother of all awards”, SGLG is the highest distinction given to local government units that exemplify transparency and accountability.
To pass the 2022 SGLG, local governments must pass these 10 assessment areas: Good Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity Programs; Health Compliance and Responsiveness; Programs for Sustainable Education; Business-friendliness and Competitiveness; Safety Peace and Order; Environmental Management; Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts; and Youth Development.
The SGLG as an institutionalized award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program continues to uphold its commitment in bringing about inclusive and people-oriented reforms that will enable the local government units to fosters culture of good governance amid the challenges in the local government landscape.
This year, performance measures are further upgraded to also gauge outcome-oriented efforts of the LGUs.
“As the Seal maintains its progressive nature, its response to various concerns in local administration and service delivery remains to be anchored on its thrust of giving distinction and incentivizing good performance,” read part of DILG Memorandum Circular 2023-086.
It added: With the setting in of the new administration and the adoption of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the Seal also anticipates and seek to influence potential actions of LGUs in response to these changes through direction-setting and strengthened performance information, as well all look forward to a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society./PN
