ILOILO City – In a time when reports of corruption continue to hound government institutions, 62 local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas have emerged as symbols of integrity and efficiency after earning the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for 2025.
DILG Region 6 director Juan Jovian Ingeniero said the recognition proves that honest and accountable governance remains alive in the region.
“These LGUs are proof that there are local governments working efficiently, transparently, and with the welfare of their people in mind,” Ingeniero said.
The region, he added, has consistently performed well in national validations, with Aklan Province maintaining an eight-year streak and Iloilo Province marking its seventh consecutive win.
“We have 62 LGUs with the SGLG. Since the start of the program, Aklan Province has achieved an eight-year streak, while Iloilo Province now marks its seventh,” he said. “I’m very happy because most of our LGUs are really performing well.”
The SGLG, regarded as the DILG’s highest award for excellence in local administration, measures performance in seven areas: financial administration, business-friendliness, peace and order, social protection, environmental management, and disaster preparedness.
Ingeniero said that disaster readiness remains one of Western Visayas’ strongest governance indicators.
“With regard to how strong our LGUs are, we have parameters that measure their performance through the Seal of Good Local Governance,” he explained. “Region 6 consistently ranks among those with the highest percentage of compliant LGUs. About 67 out of 131 LGUs in the region were recognized, which shows that Western Visayas is performing strongly overall.”
He noted that the region’s ability to respond to calamities demonstrates the functionality of local disaster councils.
“In the SGLG, there’s an indicator for disaster management, and most of our LGUs are performing well in that aspect. Their disaster councils are functional, responsive, and ready to act,” Ingeniero said.
While corruption remains a national concern, the DILG director emphasized that the awardees stand out for promoting accountability and public trust — proof that good governance can prevail even in challenging times./PN
