BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized and commended three local government units (LGUs) from the Cordillera for their exemplary implementation of the Seal of Good Local Governance Incentive Fund (SGLGIF) in the implementation of impactful projects in their respective communities.
The SGLG that is being awarded by the DILG to performing local governments nationwide recognizes LGUs that demonstrate excellence in governance, transparency, and service delivery across 10 key areas that include financial administration, social protection, economic development and peace and order.
One of the key elements of the aforesaid recognition is the SGLGIF that empowers local governments to implement transformative projects that contribute to national development goals, enhance local innovation and improve public service in their respective places.
The local governments that were given special recognitions for their exceptional and impactful use of the SGLGIF to drive local development in their areas include Asipulo, Ifugao that utilized the said funds to procure disaster risk reduction and management heavy equipment and a rescue vehicle that significantly enhanced the municipal government’s capacity to respond to emergencies and safeguard their community.
Further, Conner, Apayao was also recognized for using the SGLGIF to construct its tourism center or its ‘pasalubong’ center, a project that has boosted local tourism and supported economic growth.
The Tabuk City government headed by Mayor Darwin C. Estran֮ero was also recognized for its innovative use of the SGLIF to install solar street lights that contributed to sustainability, energy efficiency, and public safety in the component city of Kalinga.
Earlier, 33 LGUs in the region recently received their respective Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awards from the DILG during the awarding and recognition rites held last Monday at the Manila Hotel Tent City.
Based on the official list of awardees of the 2024 SGLG that was made available in the DILG website, two provinces, one city and thirty municipalities from the Cordillera were able to pass the 10-point criteria of the coveted award.
The 2024 SGLG awardees from the Cordillera include the provinces of Apayao and Mountain Province, Tabuk City, the towns of Danglas, Dolores, La Paz, Peñarrubia, San Juan and Tayum in Abra; Conner, Flora, Luna, Pudtol and Sta. Marcela in Apayao; Bokod, Buguias, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay in Benguet; Asipulo, Hungduan, Kiangan and Lamut in Ifugao; Balbalan, Rizal and Tinglayan in Kalinga and Barlig, Bauko, Besao and Sabangan in Mountain Province.
The SGLG award, incentive, honor and recognition-based program seeks to uphold its commitment in bringing about people-oriented reforms that will enable the local governments to foster a culture of good governance amidst the challenges in the local government landscape.
Under the said program, local governments must pass the 10 governance areas such as 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. By Dexter A. See
