The provincial government of Catanduanes and the capital town of Virac have won their 4th Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award while Baras clinched its second straight after joining the select performer local government units last year.
The three LGUs were among the 714 awardees nationwide who will receive the prestigious award this 2024 for their excellence in governance, based on a stringent evaluation of their functionality in 10 governance areas for 2023.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) congratulated Capitol officials led by Governor Joseph Cua, Vice Governor Peter Cua, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, department heads and workers for their first SGLG since 2017 when it bagged the Hall of Famer award following three consecutive years of success.
Also coming in for recognition for their dedication to duty and sterling public service were Mayor Samuel Laynes and Vice Mayor Arlynn Arcilla of Virac, as well as Mayor Jose Paolo Teves III and Vice Mayor Rico Tating, and their respective Sanggunians, department heads and employees.
Catanduanes won three straight awards from 2015 to 2017, the last two during the first term of Gov. Cua while Virac earned three SGLG trophies in 2016, 2017 and 2019 while led by then first-termer Mayor Laynes.
On the other hand, Bato won its first and only SGLG award so far in 2015, with Baras triumphing in 2023 and this year under the leadership of Mayor Teves.
Early this year, Capitol officials had expressed high optimism that the provincial government would be able to earn the prestigious Seal for its 2023 performance after just missing out in the 2022 awards.
Last year, the province underwent regional validation and was poised to be one of the LGUs in Bicol to receive the Seal. It passed nine out of the 10 governance areas in the assessment.
Institutionalized through Republic Act 11292, the SGLG is an award program that honors and provides incentives to LGUs committed to efficient leadership and outstanding public service.
Under the annual award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program, a local government unit must pass all 10 governance areas: Financial Administration and Sustainability; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity; 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.
In Financial Administration and Sustainability, the LGU should have reached a benchmark for local revenue growth, utilized at least 100% of its Development Fund by the end of the CY 2023, fully utilized all Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) grants received in CY 2022, and approved the CY 2024 Annual Budget on or before December 31, 2023, among others.
In Disaster Preparedness, the LGU must be a Beyond Compliant or Fully Compliant awardee of the 2023 National Gawad Kalasag (GK) Seal for LDRRMCOs, Contingency Plans should have integrated Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease (EREID) concerns, have an early warning and evacuation system, utilized at least 60% of the 70% component of CY 2023 LDRRMF, equipped Search and Rescue teams, and at least 75% of barangays have approved CBDRRM plans and budgets.
To earn additional points in Social Protection and Sensitivity, the LGU should have ensured its primary health facility’s compliance with the Accessibility Law, has one sign language interpreter and one accredited LGU-managed residential care facility for vulnerable sectors, institutionalized PESO and permanent PESO manager, and established a Population Office and Teen Center, among others.
It should have prepared Annual Operations Plan for health and met at least one target in seven areas, including at least 62.5% of households with access to safely managed drinking water services in 2022, at least 53% of households with safely managed sanitation services in CY 2022, at least 90% TB Treatment Success Rate, and 95% fully immunized child coverage, among others.
Also made mandatory in the area for Sustainable Education is the minimum 50% utilization rate on education, culture and sports expenditure from the Special Education Fund and the General Fund.
In Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, it must be a 2023 Finalist of the Most Business-Friendly LGUs Award or belong to the top 20 provinces of the 2023 Competitiveness Index, and passed three other indicators.
It should have passed the 2023 Peace and Order Council Performance Audit, rated highly functional in the Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Audit and provided logistical support to the PNP.
In Environmental Management, the LGU needs to have an approved Solid Waste Management Plan anc commenced implementation with 50% coverage, initiated initiatives in wetlands and water management, and two more for parks and green spaces development.
For Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts, it must pass several indicators: a permanent or designated Tourism Officer, a local tourism and assistance center, approved Local Tourism Development Plan, statistics report, presence of Local Culture and Arts Council, utilized 75% of budget for conservation and promotion of tangible cultural property, and published narrative on historical and cultural background.
On Youth Development, it must have a functional youth development council and office, and local youth development plan with provision of LGU support.
The 2024 guidelines also provide that for a province to qualify, at least 10 percent of its component municipalities – two in Catanduanes’ cases – must also be SGLG passers and it must have institutional integrity, meaning, none of its officials should have not been found guilty in corruption cases.