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LIGAO CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) to nine local government units in the Bicol region.
The city governments of Ligao, Legazpi, Iriga, Masbate, Sorsogon, and the towns of Bulusan, Irosin, Pilar, and Barcelona were recipients of the award during a ceremony held on Wednesday (Dec. 14) in the Manila Hotel that DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos led.
“We are very proud of this, and we shall continue all our efforts to consistently be able to implement our projects. But more than the award itself, it is a great satisfaction to note that the services we have rendered have been found effective by the national government,” Mayor Fernando Gonzalez of Ligao told the Inquirer in a phone interview.
For Mayor Geraldine Rosal of Legazpi, “having the award is an honor and privilege, and it is a reflection of a collaborative effort and dedication of work of employees, village officials and other stakeholders.”
Darlyn Ayende, division chief/officer-in-charge of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the DILG Bicol, said the SGLG annual assessment had been tough and only “a very few” passed in the entire region.
“The awardees deserved it because they met and passed the SGLG criteria, such as displaying transparency and accountability, taking proactive actions with concerns and emerging concerns, and ensuring local delivery,” she said.
Aside from the SGLG award, a cash incentive amounting to P7 million will be given to the winning cities and P5 million to the winning municipalities.
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