Zeny V. Bermudo
Provincial Press
Bureau
With the aim of the Department of Interior and
Local Government to sustain local government units (LGUs) the practice of
accountability and transparency, to prepare for the challenges created by
disasters and to address the needs of the marginalized sectors, the Seal of
Good Local Governance (SGLG) was initiated.
SGLG was
introduced to provide greater challenge to our local government units to
continue good governance practices while providing better services.
To
become an SGLG recipient, the LGU needs to pass the three core assessment areas
namely: Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster
Preparedness. Part and parcel of it are Business-Friendliness and
Competitiveness, Peace and Order, and Environmental Management to LGUs.
The LGU that complied with the criteria laid down by the DILG will
not be only conferred with the SGLG but is also entitled to an incentive such
as the Performance Challenge Fund or PCF. The PCF program provides a subsidy of P1
million for municipalities, P3 million for cities, and P7 million for
provinces. Provided however, that projects to be funded by the PCF must
contribute to the attainment of the local economic development, disaster risk
reduction management, solid waste management, and tourism as well.
The implementation of SGLG commenced early of
this year and covers all provinces, cities and municipalities. The DILG in
coordination with other organization will be the one who will select for the
qualified LGUs starting this month and the awarding will be this coming October
2014.
The
monitoring runs from May 20 to June 20, however, orientation to municipal and
local officials is still ongoing to ensure that documentation is ready for the
scheduled assessment.
Moreover, SGLG is a third party assessment to
ensure that every LGU has complied with the provisions of the Local Government
Code or Republic Act 7160 specifically on the “General Welfare Clause”.
As of now, Zamboanga del Sur from the
provincial level down to the barangay level with the earnest effort not only by
local government officials but with the
strong support of all Zambosurians as well, is now ready for the schedeuled assessment
of the SGLG evaluating team in order to
receive for the Seal of Good Local Governance.
It can be recalled that among the 26
municipalities and 1 city comprising the province of Zamboanga del Sur, only
Labangan is non compliant of the full disclosure policy of the department of
Interior and Local Government.
In an interview, DILG Provincial Director
Verner Virgilio Jayme pointed out that Zambusur is one of the big contributor
in raising up the percentage of full disclosure policy in the whole region 9
because of its complaint to the policy set by the DILG.
