Senator Sonny Angara has recommended for plenary approval a measure institutionalizing the Seal of Good Local Governance, an incentive program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that recognizes and rewards local government units (LGUs) for excellence in service and high standards of governance.
In his sponsorship speech of Senate Bill 1656, Angara urged his fellow senators to approve the proposed Seal of Good Local Governance Act to promote good public administration among LGUs and further improve their delivery of basic services to their respective constituencies.
The veteran legislator said such a DILG program needs to be institutionalized after having motivated many LGUs to operate “more efficiently, more effectively, and with more transparency and accountability” since its inception in 2014.
“This 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 the seasoned lawmaker, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government.
“There must always be a policy that recognizes and rewards good governance, especially when it is accomplished by our provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays.”
According to the senator, the Seal of Good Local Governance was the offspring of two pioneering programs introduced by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo in 2010–the Seal of Good Housekeeping and the Performance Challenge Fund.
Under these programs, LGUs that have successfully implemented “good financial housekeeping and full disclosure policies” in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit are given performance-based grants which they could use to supplement funding for local development projects.
Each LGU recipient is entitled to a cash grant of P1 million for a municipality, P3 million for a city and P7 million for a province. The grant can then be used to fund a project approved by the DILG.
“Sa Seal of Good Housekeeping, hindi lang sinigurado na may tamang financial management processes ang mga LGUs. Marami ring local projects ang napondohan dahil dito,” Angara pointed out.
He said that through such incentive program, a fish port was built in San Jose, Dinagat Islands; additional classrooms were constructed in a barangay in Minalin, Pampanga; at least three villages in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur now have access to potable water; roads were reconstructed in Calamba, Misamis Occidental; and a processing center for shrimp paste was established in Anilao, Iloilo.
“Through the program, a fish port was built in San Jose, Dinagat Islands; additional classrooms were constructed in a barangay in Minalin, Pampanga; at least three villages in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur now have access to potable water; roads were reconstructed in Calamba, Misamis Occidental; and a processing center for shrimp paste was established in Anilao, Iloilo.”
From good financial housekeeping and financial administration, the assessment criteria for Seal of Good Local Governance were expanded to nine core areas: disaster preparedness; social protection; peace and order; business-friendliness and competitiveness; environmental protection; tourism, culture and the arts; health; and education.
Under the proposed measure, aside from provinces, municipalities and cities, barangays will also now be covered by the program.
Moreover, an Incentive Fund worth P1 billion shall be created.
Over the last three years, a total of 1,008 LGUs have been awarded with the Seal of Good Local Governance.
“Dahil padami nang padami ang mga nabibigyan ng Seal of Good Local Governance, padami nang padami rin ang mga LGUs na gumaganda ang serbisyo nila sa publiko. Tila ito’y simbolo sa patuloy na pagpupursige ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan para pagbutihin pa lalo ang kanilang pamamalakad sa kanilang mga nasasakupan,” Angara concluded.
