BACOLOD City – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) national validation team has recommended the Bago City Government in Negros Occidental as a passer for the prestigious 2024 SGLG following a thorough assessment on the standard of governance and public service it demonstrates.
The SGLG is an institutionalized award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program of the agency.
DILG-Bukidnon director Rhona Pedraza-Abadilla, who led the national validation at the Bago City Community Center on Wednesday, September 11, said that based on their overall findings the city government obtained the “exceeds the expectation” ratings in almost all indicators under various local governance areas being assessed for the SGLG.
“It (Bago City) is now subject to the final deliberation of the Council of Good Local Governance,” Abadilla said. “Congratulations for the job well done and I know that with or without the SGLG you will continue the culture of performance in your city.”
The SGLG is a progressive assessment system that gives distinction to remarkable local government performance across 10 governance areas.
After conducting interviews and onsite validation, the team reported that the city obtained the highest rating, which is five, in Safety, Peace and Order area basing on the support to the local police to address drug affectation and reduce crime rates as indicator.
Among other indicators where the city obtained the “exceeds the expectation” ratings included full disclosure policy compliance under Financial Administration and Sustainability; local investment plan for health under Health Compliance and Responsiveness; establishment of Tourist Information and Assistance Center under Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and the Arts; Local Youth Development Council under Youth Development; and evacuation management system and resources, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center and approved Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan under Disaster Preparedness.
The city also got the highest rating in Local Investment Incentive Code indicator under Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Local Solid Waste Management Board, solid waste management, and initiatives on wetlands and water bodies, water management, and parks and green spaces development under Environmental Management; functional Local School Board under Sustainable Education; and mechanism for Violence Against Women and Children, functionality of Local City Social Welfare and Development, and Local Development Council functionality under Social Protection and Sensitivity.
Bago City first won the SGLG award in 2015 under the administration of then Mayor Ramon Torres, who is now the vice mayor of the city.
It bagged the same award in 2017 during the first term of Mayor Nicholas Yulo./PN
