BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance adopting the Seal of Good Housekeeping in all the barangays in the city in order to encourage the smallest political subdivision to adhere to the practice of good governance.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated that there shall be two levels of the seal, the Gawad sa Huwarang Pamamahala Award and the Dangal ng Lungsod Award.
Under the Gawad sa Huwarang Pamamahala, the barangays will be assessed in terms of their compliance to the full disclosure policy of the local budget and the posting of bids and both three conspicuous places in the barangay, with at least 80 percent average in the DILG Barangay Governance Performance Management System, with at least 80 percent average rating in the barangay legislative services assessment and compliance to Republic Act (RA) 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act, the opinion of the Commission on Audit regarding the barangay financial statements for the immediately preceding year.
Under the Dangal ng Lungsod Award, the barangays will be evaluated on the opinion of the COA regarding the barangay financial statements for the immediately preceding year, organized and functional bids and awards committee pursuant to the standards set by the Government Procurement Act and other pertinent laws, compliance with the on-line procurement posting requirement through the Philippine government Electronic Procurement System, above 81percent rating in the DILG Barangay PGMS, above 81 percent rating in the Barangay Legislative services assessment, compliance to the ARTA Law and innovator of barangay-based practices.
The ordinance provides that barangays with the Seal of Good Housekeeping shall be entitled to a cash award, as a support fund to finance local development initiatives in furtherance of both national and local government goals and strategic thrusts.
The ordinance mandated the creation of a technical working group (TWG) to be composed of the City Mayor as Chair, Vice Mayor as Vice-Chair, with the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Head of the Special Services Division, the President of the Liga ng mga Barangays, the City Accountant and the DILG Baguio field office head, as members.
Yangot sough the appropriation of the amount of P5 million every year thereafter from the city’s general fund for the implementation of the ordinance.
Within 60 days from the approval of the ordinance, Yangot said the TWG shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the local legislative measure.
He added the grant of the Seal of Good Housekeeping to qualified barangays advances the primacy of performance, accountability, transparency and participation which are considered the strategic foundations of a responsible local government as provided under existing laws, rules and regulations.
By Dexter A. See
