Bontoc, Mountain Province – Bontoc is again an awardee of this year’s national Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) which is one of the highest awards given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to local government units (LGUs) which recorded exemplary performance in government service.
Under the leadership of Mayor Franklin Odsey, the municipality of Bontoc has passed the test of good governance for three consecutive years from 2017, and is the lone awardee in Mountain Province in 2018 and 2019.
As an awardee, Bontoc received the 2019 National SGLG Awardee marker and is entitled to the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) in the amount of P2.3 Million. The PCF is an incentive fund from the national government to the LGU- SGLG recipients for funding to high-impact projects.
Odsey, along with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (MDRRMO) Johanna Faculo-Padaen, personally received the award from DILG Secretary Eduardo Año during the awarding ceremonies held at the Manila Hotel last November 4, 2019. The mayor expressed his gratitude to everyone and credited the prestigious award to the collective effort of the workforce of the Bontoc Municipal Government, partner agencies and stakeholders, with the support of the Bontoc community.
“This attests our sincerity in serving our constituents. We were able to accomplish government’s programs and projects because of the trust and all-out support that you give to the present administration. We have been united as one community in achieving what is best for our Bontoc ay Kalalaychan,” the mayor remarked.
Odsey added that since he and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan firmly believe in “A Public Office is a Public Trust”. Thus, he assured the commitment of the present administration in sustaining and building excellent programs for the Bontoc community.
After 2018 assessment, the DILG raised the criteria for LGUs hoping to get the seal. Instead of using the previous assessment method called “4+1” where LGUs need to pass four core areas and one essential area, the department used the “All–in rule” and has required LGUs to pass in all seven areas.
For this year, Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) Claire Peel said that the DILG carries on with the “All-in rule” primarily to continue influencing more LGUs to embrace the drive for good local governance in pursuit of improving and sustaining reforms in local administration and service delivery.
With this, the municipality of Bontoc passed with flying colors the seven areas which are Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, Peace and Order; Business-friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Management, and Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
The other awardees in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for this year are the municipalities of Bucay, Dolores, La Paz, San Juan, Tayum, and Tineg, all in the Province of Abra; the municipalities of Alfonso Lista, Asipulo, Lagawe, and Lamut, all in the Province of Ifugao; and the municipality of Kibungan in Benguet Province.
In the Philippines, there are 81 provinces, 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities. Of the total, there are only 380 National SGLG Awardees for this year comprising 17 provinces, 57 cities, and 306 municipalities.
By Alpine L. Killa
