• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Monday, Dec. 9, honored and recognized the province of Negros Occidental and 18 other local government units for being awardees of the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who led the national awards ceremony at the Manila Hotel The Tent City, told the awardees: “Make this a symbol that you ran a good government – you ran a clean government, and an effective government”.
Among the national awardees are the province of Negros Occidental, highly urbanized Bacolod City, component cities of Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias, as well as municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, and Manapla.
Mayor Marvin Malacon, who received the award for E.B. Magalona, said that each of the municipalities received P1.150 million in incentive subsidy while the cities, P2 million, and the province, P3 million.
This financial support catalyzes these local government units (LGUs) to continue their initiatives, improve service delivery, and uplift the lives of their constituents, according to the DILG.
With this funding, they are empowered to sustain and enhance their programs and contribute to their communities’ overall progress and welfare, it added.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our department heads, program leaders, and the unwavering support of the people of Bacolod. Together, we continue to strive for excellence and progress for our beloved city,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said that being a SGLG awardee is a remarkable achievement, which underscores the city’s continued commitment to excellence in governance, service delivery, and transparency.
Enacted through Republic Act 11292 in 2019, the SGLG is an institutionalized award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program that encourages the commitment of LGUs to continuously progress and improve their performance in various governance areas.
The SGLG maintains the “All-in” principle where a local government must pass all governance areas – Financial Administration and Sustainability, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection and Sensitivity, Health Compliance and Responsiveness, Sustainable Education, Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Safety, Peace and Order, Environmental Management, Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts, and Youth Development. | GB
