Eight NCR LGUs underwent the national level of validation for the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).
SGLG is DILG’s most prestigious award given to LGUs that exhibited exemplary and innovative local governance practices. Now on its third run, it aims to inculcate good local governance among LGUs and give recognition for those which consistently strive to upscale services extended to their constituents
Representatives from the DILG Central Office-Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) led the conduct of the SGLG national validation in Metro Manila held from August 29 to September 6. The national validators were accompanied by DILG-NCR SGLG focal persons and field personnel, who were responsible in providing assistance to LGUs in preparation for the national validation.
The SGLG national validation is conducted in LGUs that have passed the regional level of validation or deemed as ‘potential passers’ of the Seal. Data from the regional level of validation collected through the SGLG data capture forms (DCF) undergo another level of reevaluation in the national level.
National validation teams led the conduct of evaluation. Teams are composed of key Local Government Operations Officers (LGOOs), DILG’s technical personnel, from its Central Office and 17 Regional Offices. To ensure impartiality, the teams were assigned to assess LGUs different from their area of assignment. The teams also provided feedback to the LGUs which aim to give them perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the LGU following the criteria of the Seal.
For 2017, as provided under DILG Memorandum Circular 2017-53, the SGLG will follow the “4+1 principle” – LGUs need to meet the requirements under the four core areas: Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, and Peace and Order, the latter being the new addition in the core areas.
For the +1 or the essential area, LGUs must pass at least one of the following: Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Protection, and Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
The new and upgraded indicators under the 4+1 principle complement strategies under the Philippine Development Plan, as well as international treaties in which the country is a signatory such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Sendai Framework.
Results of the national validation will be presented to the National Quality Committee for vetting, prior to its endorsement to the DILG Secretary and Undersecretary for Local Government for its conferment, set in October in time for the Local Government Month.
DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes Agustin expressed her hope that the 8 NCR potential passers will be able to get the highly coveted award.
“In 2016, 5 NCR LGUs successfully obtained the Seal. It is our hope that for 2017, all our 8 potential passers will be part of this year’s roster of SGLG conferees. Nonetheless, DILG-NCR is one with our LGUs in upholding good local governance, which we celebrate in SGLG,” she noted.