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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday, December 23, 2016
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ILOILO City – For three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016, Iloilo province has been consistently recognized as the Best Performing Province in Western Visayas in the Excellence in Local Governance (EXCELL) award of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6.
It has continuously exhibited above benchmark performance in all facets of governance – Administrative, Social, Economic and Environmental.
“This is a testament to our hard work, honesty, transparency, and competence,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
This year, the province made it to the EXCELL award’s hall of fame. The award was given during the Pagdayaw 2016 ceremony at Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo district on Dec. 21.
Defensor said the award was important because it would justify the provincial government’s giving of additional bonuses to its employees, specifically the P15,000 cash incentive under the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE).
Because Iloilo is already a “hall of famer”, it is disqualified from participating in the 207 EXCELL award. But it can join again in 2018.
In this year’s EXCELL award, Iloilo was declared champion in three out of four fields of governance – Social, Economic and Environmental.
It was first runner-up in Administrative Governance because in lacked in the “codal requirement”, explained Provincial Administrator Raul Banias.
“We haven’t passed the Code of General Ordinances. It is already being acted upon by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, especially by Board member Demy Sonza. We hope that by the second quarter of next year, maaprobahan na ang aton Code of General Ordinance,” said Banias.
The Code of General Ordinance is a codification of all the issuances, laws, ordinances, and resolutions of the SP.
ILOILO CITY BEST PERFORMING, TOO
On the other hand, the city of Iloilo also won the coveted Best Performing City award.
“The city government was cited for its intensified efforts in eradicating red tape in all transactions, initiation of Citizens Charter comics using the Ilonggo dialect, and business licensing such as online tax assessment given with Blue Certification Level II by the Office of the Ombudsman,” according to the DILG.
City hall already got the Plaque of Sustainability in 2015 and Hall of Fame – Best Performing City in Region 6 in 2014, the first to be elevated to such award, following its three consecutive wins from 2011 to 2013.
“We are doing our best to provide excellent services to our people. These awards are testaments to our passion and dedicated service,” said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
This year, the city was declared champion in the following facets of governance – Administrative, Social and Economic.
It was second runner-up in Environmental Governance.
Mabilog said the city government successfully exemplified its commitment in raising the standards of accountability, transparency and improved service delivery.
He encouraged city hall employees to continue supporting programs and projects which garnered prestigious awards and sustain the gains achieved.
He also asked Ilonggos to cooperate and support the initiatives to make the metropolis livable, safe and peaceful for residents, visitors, and investors.
EXCELL has recognized the best managed local governments (LGUs) in the region that demonstrate best practices, achievements and innovations in governance, administration, social services, economic development, environmental management and local legislation.
The program also aims to advocate for transparency and accountability in governance, positively reinforce good performers, popularize replicable best practices and identify possible interventions to improve LGUs’ performance./PN
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