“The SGLG is a game-changer for local government units…”
This is how Undersecretary for Local Government Marivel C. Sacendoncillo, CESO III, described the relevance of the SGLA in her inspirational message during the opening day of the 2019 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) National Orientation recently.
She added that the SGLG has ‘scaled up the actions’ of the LGUs and that “it is the system that the DILG can be proud of.” She also added, “This is the system that allows us, the DILG, to exactly perform our mandate.”
Usec. Sacendoncillo posed the challenge ahead to all those who were present in the event which is on “how to make the system more effective for local government units”. She notes that from just a mere ‘compliance monitoring’, it has to evolve into a ‘results-based assessment system.’
“Beyond the assessment, the use of the information is critical.” Usec. Sacendoncillo emphasized. She further added that “more than just giving out the Seal, what is more significant is on how it can move LGUs from a certain level of performance to the next higher level.”
Similarly, Atty. Odilon L. Pasaraba, CESO V, Director of the BLGS, said that “LGUs are indispensable partners, allies, and if not development institutions, to mean ‘business- no- longer usual’ when we talk about championing and rallying poverty eradication or good life for the Filipino people.”
The activity, held on March 18-19, 2019 at BSA Twin Towers in Mandaluyong City, gathered the first batch of Regional Assessment Teams (RATs) from Regions I, III, IV-A, V, IX, X, XII and CARAGA to discuss the Technical Notes, Assessment Instruments, Implementation Process, Key Responsibilities and Timeline.
Considering the trend in the performance of LGUs since the inception of SGLG in 2015, and in anticipation of the legitimization of the program, the National Steering Committee has resolved to carry on with the existing indicators of the seven (7) assessment areas namely, Financial Administration, Disaster Preparedness, Social Protection, Peace and Order, Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Environment Protection, and Tourism, Culture and the Arts. Upgrades on benchmarks for some indicators were introduced as they are deemed necessary in upholding the essence of the Seal.
The 2019 SGLG: As Is hopes that more LGUs would now be able to cope with the minimum standards set for local governance, innovations, and public service delivery and eventually pass the series of assessments and validations leading up to the Awarding Ceremony which is tentatively set to happen in October.
The delegation from Region XII included ARD Lailyn A. Ortiz, CESE, LGMED Chief Musarapha A. Alim, SGLG-RFP Ryan J. Alair, DRR-RFP Relmie T. Tamson, CSO Partner Arch. Carlito Y. Uy, and SGLG-PFPs LGOO VI Augustus T. Tabugo of Sultan Kudarat, LGOO V Mary Grace D. Santarin of Sarangani, LGOO V Vita V. Gumahad of Cotabato, and LGOO V Arsad H. Tekoken of South Cotabato.
Towards the conclusion of the two-day activity, the salient features of the SGLG Bill were presented by the SGLG National Focal Person, LGOO V Melany Quiton. Accordingly, the program shall be steered by the Council of Good Local Governance composed of the DILG, DBM, DOF, DOH, DSWD, DepEd, DOT, DENR, NEDA, OCD and a basic sector representative identified by the NAPC. Once it becomes a law, the DILG shall remain as the implementing agency.
The Regional Orientation shall follow in the second week of April in Koronadal City to roll out the finalized policies and guidelines, set of indicators, and assessment instruments. There shall be clustering of provinces and cities in order to facilitate a more conducive environment for meaningful discussions. Subsequently, the regional assessment is set to commence mid-April and shall be completed by the second week of May.
