By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The provincial government of Negros Occidental and 18 other local government units (LGUs) in the province passed the 2021 Good Financial Housekeeping of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The eight cities are Bago, Cadiz, La Carlota, Kabankalan, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, and Victorias while the 10 municipalities include Candoni, Don Salvador Benedicto, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, Manapla, Murcia, San Enrique, Toboso, and Valladolid.

The annual award aims to recognize LGUs that accord primacy to the principles of performance, accountability, transparency, and participation.

The DILG, in its website, said the principles are essential in building the long term foundation of a responsible local government system in the country.

To qualify, an LGU will have to pass all seven governance areas namely, Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, Peace and Order, Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Protection, and Tourism Culture and the Arts./DGB, WDJ