By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Senate recently approved on its third and final reading a measure institutionalizing the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), an incentive program by the Department of the Interior and Local Government that recognizes and rewards local government units for “excellent service and high standards of governance.”

“This program should be enshrined as law of the land for we believe that there must always be a policy that recognizes and rewards good governance, especially when it is accomplished by our provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays,” said Senator Sonny Angara, who sponsored the bill.

SGLG is divided into nine core areas, including disaster preparedness, social protection, peace and order, business-friendliness and competitiveness, environmental protection, tourism, culture and the arts, health, and education; and provinces, municipalities and cities, and barangays are eligible to receive the distinction.

In addition, a P1 billion SGLG Incentive Fund will be created once the proposed measure is signed into law./DGB, WDJ