ANTIQUE – The local government unit (LGU) of San Jose de Buenavista in the province of Antique is aiming for the 2023 Good Local Governance (SGLG) citation from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
SGLG is the highest award conferred by DILG to performing LGUs. It symbolizes transparency, accountability, integrity, and improved public service delivery.
The SGLG national validation team recently visited the municipality to assess its performance.
Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division chief Lerrie S. Hernandez and LGOO V Fatima S. Lalu, both from Region III, Central Luzon, headed the validation team with LGOO V Jessana Carmela Lariza-Tatoy, SGLG Focal Person, DILG Antique.
They were welcomed by local officials headed by Mayor Elmer Untaran, department heads and functionaries, and selected Punong Barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons, who all underwent simultaneous rigid interviews.
Validators also conducted on-site visits to: Barangay Maybato North for the VAW desk; Barangay 3 for their Barangay Material Recovery Facility (MRF); Barangay 4 for the Tsunami Early Warning System; Antique National School for the School-Based ARH Advocacy for Youth (Teen Center); Barangays Catungan-Bugarot for the Flood Early Warning System; Barangay Pantao for the Sanitary Land Fill, Municipal MRF, and Vermi-Composting Facility; Barangay San Pedro for the Darangpan Kang Kabataan, DRRM OPCEN, Evacuation Center; Tradetown in Barangay Funda-Dalipe for the Municipal Tourism Information Center.
The visits concluded at the municipal hall for the full disclosure policy board, citizen’s charter, BPLO, BOSS, and the Municipal Population Office.
SGLG is an award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program for all LGUs and is a continuing commitment for LGUs given by the DILG to continually progress and improve performance in upholding the practice of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, the institutionalization of mandates, and other compliances for the better delivery of services and public welfare.
Untaran said that as a consistent SGLG passer, San Jose de Buenavista is now on its sixth attempt to pass the performance indicators in all 10 governance areas, namely 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.
“With its collective efforts, unity and hard work, San Jose de Buenavista is hoping for its inclusion in this year’s SGLG passers,” said Untaran in a statement.
SGLG is institutionalized through Republic Act No. 11292 and is dubbed “the mother of all awards,” being the highest distinction given to LGUs./PN
