Tarlac City gets ‘Seal of good governance award’

By Nelson Bolos

TARLAC CITY — The Dept. of Interior and Local Government  announced that this city, for the first time, will be awarded the “Seal of Good Local Governance” (SGLG).

SGLG is “meticulous performance evaluation” conducted annually by the DILG to all local government units, towns, cities and provinces.

The evaluation covers “3 core or basic aspects and 3 essential elements on local government management” foremost of which is the “good financial housekeeping”.

                It was launched in 2010 by the late DILG secretary Jessie Robredo as a “means to deter LGU officials from mismanaging their finances and minimize graft and corruption and to professionalize the administration of local gorvernance”.

“When I took over in 2016, the city financial condition is a big mess. The fiscal deficit is more than P103 Million, loans payable around P600 Million, tax collection is very low, assets of the city are not earning and many were ‘sold out’ thru irregular contracts. Many records are missing. Funds are released for other purpose without the approval from the SP (Sanggunian Panlungsod). Basic services to the people are not adequately provided, etc, etc. Thus we worked very hard to correct the total mismanagement of the city”, said Mayor Cristy Angeles, the first ever lady mayor of the city.

Reports say the administration of former mayor Gelacio Manalang obtained P587 Million loan from banks a big portion of which was used in the renovation of the Uptown Public Market.

“Saan ka naman nakakita na ang pambili ng electric fans ng munisipyo inutang sa bangko at ang halaga ng isang buckhoe-loader P14.7 Million”, commented a barangay official on Manalang administration who requested to be anonymous.

According to the Commission on Audit (COA) 2016 Report, Manalang has almost P30 million disbursement disallowances or questionable expenses.    

The budget reportedly allotted for financial assistance to senior citizens, scholarship funds, Philhealth card for indigents, among others, were diverted to other purposes without the approved re-alignment resolution from the SP.

“We are very proud of the SGLG award. This is the fruit of decent, prudent and corruption-free management of the city today”, said lawyer Joselito Castro.

Castro, the chief of the city legal office, led the filing of several cases in courts against the “anomalous contracts” executed during the previous administration and a corruption case against Manalang among which is the petition to invalidate the “onerous” lease contract of Paliparan Central Market Corporation over the Uptown Market.

                The SGLG award makes an LGU eligible to avail of special projects and programs funded by the national government.  Meaning, LGUs without SGLG are not allowed to be recipients of some national projects.

“The SGLG award is proof that we are in the right track. Now we are able to provide more services to the people and more projects and programs without resorting to loans. The employees of the city are now much more responsive and professional. But we shall still strive to be more efficient, prudent and competent to better serve the city populace”, added the feisty lady mayor.

According the local DILG office, the formal awarding of SGLG will be held on November 5.

Last year only six towns of the province’s 18 LGUs were awarded the SGLG.

This year nine Tarlac LGUs were SGLG recipients: Tarlac City, Gerona, Moncada, Sta. Ignacia, Capas, Pura, San Clemente, San Jose and Victoria.

A DILG notice says “national recognition plus a higher cash awards, to finance development projects, await SGLG recipients.”