Iloilo province, with its 18 municipalities and one component city, bagged the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), the highest governance and public administration award conferred by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“This SGLG award is the seventh consecutive award for the province of Iloilo. One of the big factors here is the guidance of our governor Arthur Defensor Jr., in his repeated pronouncement that good governance is not just a goal but it’s a standard. That’s how we operate here in the province of Iloilo,” Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said in an interview on Friday, Nov. 15.
Banias said the SGLG criteria have evolved through the years.
Before, the compliance was only on a certain number of the 10 parameters. For 2024, the standard was higher because it is all-in; the local government units needed to comply with the 10 parameters.
It means local government units have to meet the minimum requirements in all governance areas, including tourism, heritage development, culture, and arts; safety, peace, and order; financial administration and sustainability; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business-friendliness competitiveness; environmental management; and youth development.
“If you miss one, then you are out. We really exerted effort. We have frequent regular meetings with the DILG for the pre-assessment of our performance. The biggest challenge, always, is the compliance to financial administration and sustainability because the requirement of the DILG is we shall be able to disburse 70 percent of the 20 percent National Tax Allotment,” Banias said.
According to the DILG, the other LGU awardees were Passi City and the municipalities of Alimodian, Anilao, Banate, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Concepcion, Lambunao, Leganes, Maasin, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, Pototan, San Enrique, Tigbauan, Tubungan, and Zarraga.
Lambunao Vice Mayor Arvin Losaria, in a separate interview, said the town is now a four-time SGLG awardee – in 2015, 2018, 2023, and 2024.
“It shows and proves the efficient and effective governance of the LGU of Lambunao in terms of the various parameters like fiscal management, transparency, and accountability,” Rosaria said.
He added that the local government would not sit on its laurels but would continue to innovate proactive measures to sustain its being an SGLG awardee.
Last year, the local government used its PHP2.5 million financial incentive for the road concreting of Barangay Agsirab.
The DILG has yet to announce the schedule of the national award.Perla Lena/PNA
