DILG, local gov’t unveil good governance seal in Samar

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Nov. 28 (PNA) –- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the provincial government here unveiled Monday the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) received by Samar province.

DILG Eastern Visayas Regional Director Maribel Sacendoncillo and Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos led the unveiling of the seal at the provincial capitol’s lobby.

Samar is one of the 12 local government units in the region awarded with SGLG for passing the test of good governance in three core assessment areas—good financial housekeeping, social protection and disaster preparedness.

The LGU must also pass at least one from the essential assessment areas of business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order or environmental management.

Philippine Army’s Central Command Commander Major General Raul Del Rosario and 8th Infantry Division Brigadier General Raul Farnacio and witnessed the unveiling.

In her message, Sacendoncillo emphasized the importance of good governance in running a province, city, and town.

“Good governance is the solution to the problem in the community such as poverty that may lead to insurgency, which Samar province experiences,” she said.

The official takes on to challenge the town mayors who witnessed the unveiling rites to improve the services they provide to the people and the address the needs of them to also receive the SGLG.

None of the 24 towns in Samar province received the SGLG award this year. Aside from the provincial government, the other SGLG recipient this year is Calbayog City.

Samar province will receive a performance challenge fund to finance social development, environmental, and disaster risk reduction management projects, according to Sacendoncillo.

Tan-de los Santos vowed to help all local government units in Samar province to address their deficiencies for them to qualify for the SGLG award.

In the region, other SGLG award recipient provinces are Eastern Samar, Leyte and Biliran. Awardees for the town category are General MacArthur and Salcedo, in Eastern Samar; Barugo, Javier, Tabango and Tolosa in Leyte; and St. Bernard in Southern Leyte.

Of the 306 SGLG awardees nationwide, there are 43 provinces, 51 cities and 212 towns. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR