The Negros Occidental provincial government has vowed to strengthen its environmental stewardship to serve as an inspiration to the local government units (LGUs) in the province.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson made the commitment as part of the week-long Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)-Environmental Management (EM) Governance Area Learning Event for Negros Island (NIR) that concluded on Tuesday afternoon, January 28, at a convention center in Bacolod City.
“It is our duty to lead by example, empowering all LGUs in the province to strive for the same recognition. Let us continue to foster collaboration among LGUs, national agencies and stakeholders. Together, we can create a stronger foundation for sustainable environmental governance in Negros Occidental,” the governor said in a statement.
Negros Occidental has been a consistent SGLG awardee, including its latest recognition in 2024, along with 18 of the 31 LGUs in the province.
The award is given yearly by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to LGUs that meet performance standards in 10 aspects of governance, from financial sustainability to environmental management.
This time, stronger environmental safeguards will be included in the SGLG to bolster the protection of local green spaces and other natural resources.
During the learning event held from January 23 to 28, officials from concerned agencies and LGUs discussed ways to mainstream environmental safeguards into both the SGLG and the LGU development plans to pave the way for more financial investments in biodiversity conservation.
Previously, the SGLG’s environment management governance section focused on solid waste management and disaster preparedness and in 2023, it expanded to cover the establishment and upkeep of public parks and green spaces along with the sustainable management of wetlands like coasts, rivers and lakes.
“By embedding environmental sustainability into governance, we pave the way for disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and the preservation of resources for future generations,” DILG-NIR Director Lailyn Ortiz said in a message.
Officials and representatives from 22 LGUs in Negros Occidental and 20 LGUs in Negros Oriental attended the two-part learning event, which will help them comply with the SGLG’s new biodiversity requirements and eventually develop toolkits to help both the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and DILG in assisting participating LGUs.
“The DENR is committed to providing the necessary guidance, resources and technical assistance to help our LGUs comply with our new environmental indicators,” Undersecretary for Luzon and Visayas Field Operations Juan Miguel Cuna said.
Anabelle Plantilla, national project manager of the United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative, said she hopes the workshops will allow every LGU in the country to meet SGLG standards and further enhance their capacity to protect their respective natural resources.
“As a bonus, LGUs that meet the new SGLG standards shall in turn be rewarded with a special budgetary allotment,” she added. (PNA)