• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eleven local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental were among the 35 in Western Visayas, which received the coveted Seal of Good Local Governance, making them eligible to receive the Seal of Good Local Governance Incentive Fund.
During the awarding rites held in Iloilo City on Jan. 9, some 35 LGUs received their checks, amounting to P4 million each for provinces, P2.3 million for cities, and P1.8 million for towns, from the DILG-Western Visayas.
The awardees from Negros Occidental were the provincial government, cities of Bacolod, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, San Carlos, Sagay, Victorias, and Talisay, and the municipalities of Manapla and La Castellana.
They received a total of P26 million in incentive funds.
DILG-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Teodora Sumagaysay yesterday called on Negros Occidental LGUs who passed the SGLG to use the incentive fund they received for local development projects they need in their respective localities.
Sumagaysay said that SGLG awardees can choose from the menu of projects that cover livelihood, infrastructure, disaster preparedness and peace and order.
“They should prioritize the funds they received,” she added.
During the awarding rites in Iloilo, LGU awardees expressed their fortified steadfastness to transparency and accountability in project implementation through the signing of the pledge of commitment, according to a statement issued by the DILG regional office. | GB