Baras town, under the leadership of Mayor Jose Paolo Teves III, won its first Seal of Good Local Governance last week along with 93 other local government units which are first-time awardees.
Mayor Teves, along with Municipal Engineer Noe Teves, received the award from Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos in the presence of other DILG national officials as well as Regional Director Atty. Arnaldo Escober Jr. and Catanduanes Provincial Director Uldarico Razal Jr.
The eastern municipality’s notable achievement comes on heels of its being awarded the 23rd Gawad Kalasag Seal of Local DRRM Councils and Offices as among the fully compliant cities and municipalities, with Pandan, Panganiban and Virac as other awardees from Catanduanes.
In his message at the awarding rites at The Manila Hotel last Dec. 13-14, 2023, Sec. Abalos urged the 493 SGLG awardees this year to share their success stories with other local government units (LGUs) and asked them to espouse a culture of excellence among LGUs and ensure that no community will be left behind in the country’s thrust towards prosperity.
Of the SGLG awardees this year, 28 are provinces, 64 cities, and 401 municipalities, of which 94 are first-time awardees.
Twenty-two (22) LGUs joined the circle of seven-time passers, after sustaining their good performance since 2015 when the SGLG was first conferred.
The SGLG winners from Bicol region are the following: Legazpi City, Ligao City, Polangui, all in Albay; Basud and Paracale, Camarines Norte; Baras in Catanduanes; City of Masbate; and, Bulusan, Castilla, Irosin, Juban, Pilar, and Sorsogon City.
Enacted through Republic Act No. 11292 or “The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019,” the SGLG is an institutionalized award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program that encourages LGUs’ commitment to continuous progress and improve their performance along various governance areas.
All LGU awardees received an SGLG marker and incentive fund of P4 million for provinces, P2.3 million for cities, and P1.8 million for municipalities.
The reward money will then be utilized to support their respective local development initiatives.
To receive the SGLG award, LGUs must pass the assessment criteria across various governance areas, namely: financial administration; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity.
Also, health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business-friendliness and competitiveness; safety, peace and order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development, culture and arts; and youth development.