TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The city government underwent national validation today, September 14, for the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award.
Tabuk is among the local government units (LGUs) shortlisted for the coveted award, which is considered a badge of excellence for LGUs, after passing the regional assessment.
Division chief Lerrie Hernandez and local government officer Fatima Lalu of the Department of Interior and Local Government Region 3 composed the national validation team that scrutinized documents presented by the different departments attesting the city’s performance on the ten areas of governance, namely: Financial Administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, health compliance and responsiveness, sustainable education, business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order, environmental management and tourism culture and the arts, and youth development.
Hernandez also inspected the City Hall’s full disclosure board, facilities for persons with disabilities to see if it’s up to par with standards prescribed by the Accessibility Law, and assessed the Business One Stop Shop managed by the Business Permits and Licensing Office and the Operations Center of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Meanwhile, Lalu inspected the city’s evacuation center in Agbannawag and the sanitary landfill in Dilag.
An exit conference was held after the validation to discuss the findings and recommendations of the national team.
While Hernandez noted some lacking documents, she expressed confidence that the concerned offices would be able to comply before the deadline.
“Well noted lahat ng observations,” Mayor Darwin Estrañero said. “We should definitely comply with these until tonight,” he directed department heads.
To the validation team, the mayor said: “Rest assured, next na balik niyo, wala na kayong observations. Definitely we will comply with all the recommendations.”
The validation closed with the mayor giving tokens of appreciation to the national validation team.
Also present during the validation were the members the Sangguniang Panlungsod, city department heads and their assistants, PNP Tabuk City led by LtCol. Dinulong Tumbali, the barangay chairs of Cabaruan, Laya West and Dagupan Weste and other personnel and staff of the concerned offices of the city government.