Twelve of the 13 cities in Negros Occidental, including highly-urbanized Bacolod City, were among the awardees of the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), based on the list released by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday, November 14.
In a statement, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez congratulated “all the departments who have worked hard for this award.”
“This achievement is a true product of team effort, and each one of you deserves to be recognized and applauded. This one’s for Bacolod City,” he said.
The DILG-Negros Occidental also congratulated this year’s winners from the province.
“Your commitment to transparency, accountability and community-focused service inspires us all. Together, let us continue to set the bar for responsive and sustainable local governance,” it added.
Aside from Bacolod, the other national awardees are the component cities of Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias.
Only Kabankalan failed to make it to the list of SGLG recipients this year.
The other winners are the province of Negros Occidental and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, and Manapla.
“This prestigious honor reflects the unwavering commitment of Cadiz City, led by Mayor Salvador Escalante, to excellence, transparency and accountability in public service. Their dedication to upholding the highest standards of governance sets a powerful example and serves as an inspiration to communities everywhere,” the city government said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said the distinguished SGLG award is “a recognition of our city’s unwavering commitment to exemplary public service and governance, proving our sustained efforts toward transparent, inclusive, and sustainable governance.”
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said more than the award, what is “more gratifying is the fact that Negros Occidental has been in accordance with the standards of the DILG.”
“It, in fact, surpassed the standards of the DILG in the implementation of programs, projects and activities,” he added.
The SGLG, enacted through Republic Act 11292 in 2019, is an institutionalized award, incentive, honor, and recognition-based program that encourages the commitment of LGUs to continuously progress and improve their performance in various governance areas.
The SGLG maintains the “All-in” principle where a local government must pass all 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. (PNA)