BACOLOD City – The local government unit of this city is poised to receive the 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at The Manila Hotel on Nov. 5.
“This is a validation of all the other awards we earned,” Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.
Given annually by the DILG, the SGLG is described as the ultimate badge of integrity and performance in public service among local government units.
“I have seen how local governance has innovated and evolved through the years. I may not be the best mayor but I have the best government employees,” added Leonardia.
Bacolod is one of only five cities in Western Visayas that the said award. The other cities are Passi, San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias.
There are 17 provinces, 57 cities and 306 municipalities out of 1,706 LGUs that will be conferred the SGLG award.
“We recognize your efforts in practicing good governance and providing better public service. Mahusay!” the DILG-Region 6 said on its Facebook page, referring to the awardees.
CORE AREAS
The SGLG criteria have seven governance core areas: Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection; Peace and Order; Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Protection; and Tourism Culture and the Arts.
DILG secretary Eduardo Año said SGLG 2019 presents a more challenging requisite of hitting the minimum criteria in SGLG’s seven governance areas.
The LGU also has to demonstrate positive result out of its reform efforts taking into account local leadership and the cohesive action of the entire workforce.
Deserving SGLG recipients from the 81 provinces, 145 cities and 1489 municipalities will be conferred with the SGLG marker; eligibility to the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) to finance their local development initiatives; and an access to other programs and capacity development assistance from DILG.
OTHER AWARDS OF BACOLOD
Last month, Bacolod was recognized the Top Philippine Model City 2019 by The Manila Times, the oldest newspaper in the country. Aside from this major award, Bacolod received two special awards: Business-Friendly / High Returns, and Retirement Haven.
Last week, Bacolod received a Special Citation in the 2019 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards under City Level 1B category for cities outside Metro Manila.
In 2018, the PCCI had awarded Bacolod a Special Citation in the Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards under the City Level 1 category.
In 2017, Bacolod was one of the Top 3 finalists in the same contest. It was the HUC outside of Metro Manila included in the Top 3.
In 2018, Bacolod was No. 1 in the Visayas and No. 8 in the country in the Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines, and No. 3 Most Improved Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines, at the 6th Competitiveness Summit and Awards of the National Competitiveness Council. (Bacolod City PIO/PN)
