Apayao, Kalinga win Seal of Good Local Governance

LUNA, Apayao -- The Department of Interior and Local Government awarded the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) to towns in Apayao and Kalinga recently with three winning in the latter.

           Sen. Sonny Angara and DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno conferred the 2016 SGLG to Apayao  municipalities of Sta. Marcela, Pudtol and Luna along with other awardees during national conferment ceremony at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City last week.  

Municipal mayors Rolly Guiang of Santa Marcela, Josephine Bangsil of Luna and Hector Reuel Pascua of Pudtol together with their municipal local government officers received the prestigious award in behalf of their respective municipalities.

Apayao DILG Provincial Director Marvin Basquez said roughly 13 percent of the LGUs in the country made it to the 2016 SGLG, an award and incentive program for performing local governments. 

Only 306 LGUs nationwide have been conferred the “2016 SGLG Award: Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal.”

The three municipalities are entitled each to access the Performance Challenge Fund amounting to P3 million and loan approval through issuance of “good financial housekeeping” certification and other programs offered directly by the DILG without any counterpart.

For next year, Basquez said that Apayao targets to have 90% complaint municipalities to have more SGLG awardees including the provincial government of Apayao.

Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. conveyed his appreciation to local officials who labored much for this award, another feat not only for the said municipalities but also for the province.

Meanwhile, Tabuk City in Kalinga  again gained honor in local governance  as it was  conferred this year’s SGLG award - city category  by the Department of Interior and Local Government   last Oct. 27. 

The SGLG, also known as ‘Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal,’ is awarded by the DILG annually to deserving provinces, cities and municipalities with remarkable practices on performance, accountability, participation and service delivery set on three factors: food financial housekeeping, social protection and services, and disaster preparedness.

 City local government operation officer Mediatrix Alinio said there were 306 local government units (LGUs) awarded the SGLG this year during  awards ceremony as highlight of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Local Government Code of 1991.

Aside from Tabuk LGU, Kalinga provincial LGU and Balbalan LGU are also SGLG awardees. 

            LGU-recipients of the award are entitled to a package of incentives such as the Performance Challenge Fund and access to other national performance-based programs. – With a report from Larry Lopez