ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. received Iloilo Province’s seventh Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award during the 2024 SGLG National Awarding Ceremony held on December 9 at The Tent City, The Manila Hotel.
Defensor accepted the recognition from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) assistant secretary Odilon Pasaraba, alongside DILG Iloilo provincial director Engr. Carmelo Orbista and DILG Region 6 director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero.
The province previously won in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023.
Iloilo holds the distinction of being the first province to secure the award for four consecutive years (2015–2018).
For 2024, Iloilo joined 40 provinces and a total of 714 local government units (LGUs) nationwide recognized for excellence in governance.
The SGLG, established under Republic Act No. 11292, is regarded as the “mother of all awards” and evaluates LGUs in 10 key governance areas: financial management, disaster preparedness, social protection, health, education, business competitiveness, peace and order, environmental management, tourism and culture, and youth development.
In June, Iloilo underwent a regional assessment at the provincial capitol, where Governor Defensor expressed confidence in the province’s performance.
“The SGLG serves as a benchmark for our processes here, and we are pleased to meet its standards,” he said.
The 2023 award secured Iloilo a P4-million incentive fund, supporting Defensor’s vision of “MoRProGRes Iloilo” (Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo). This development strategy emphasizes unified governance for sustained growth. The legacy of excellence in governance began with former Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., under whom Iloilo first achieved its consecutive SGLG wins.
Apart from Iloilo Province, 19 municipalities and Passi City also earned the 2024 SGLG. Recognized towns include Alimodian, Anilao, Banate, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Concepcion, Lambunao, Leganes, Maasin, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, Pototan, San Enrique, Tigbauan, Tubungan, and Zarraga.
Governor Defensor was joined at the ceremony by Iloilo capitol department heads, including Human Resource Management and Development Office chief Atty. Renee Valencia, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief retired police colonel Cornelio Salinas, Provincial Population Office chief Atty. Ruel Von Superio, Public Information Community and Affairs Office chief Jose Nereo Lujan, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Atty. Caesar Emanuelle Buyco, Provincial Planning and Development Office acting head Valme Lujan, Provincial Employment Service Office acting head Cynthia Dario, and Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion chief Aulynn Yue Sin./PN
