352 LGUS to receive nearly ₧2-B ‘incentives’ for good governance

ATOTAL of P1.961 billion will be awarded to 352 local government units (LGUS) for their development projects after being conferred with the 2022 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

Eighteen provinces, 60 cities, and 274 municipalities received the good governance award in the recent two awarding rites in Manila on December 13 and 14.

Aside from getting physical markers, the winning LGUS will gain access to the SGLG Incentive Fund.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated that each winning province will receive P9.5 million, while the winning cities and towns will get P7 million and P5 million, respectively.

Enacted in 2019 and implemented on full-scale for the first time this year, the SGLG law restricts the use of the funds for local projects supporting “national goals and strategic thrusts.”

DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. lauded the LGUS that passed the SGLG criteria despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The awardees account for one fifth of the country’s 1,715 LGUS with the highest number coming from Central Luzon.

“It’s not about the trophies. It’s not about the award. It’s raising the bar of performance. It’s about attitude, changing the culture…it does not mean that you will stop you after winning…it means public service will continue, there will be no stop in innovations,’’ Abalos said.

Abalos added the diversity of awardees from first-class to lowerclass LGUS show the award does not depend on how much resources are available to local officials.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who was guest of honor during the December 14 rites, urged the LGU awardees to take on the challenge of improving the lives of their constituents with the decentralization of funds to LGUS following the Mandanas ruling.

“Just act and do things the right way. Implement your plans and programs with no guide but the wellbeing of your people,” Bersamin said.

Among the awardees are 25 LGUS that have consistently passed the SGLG for six years, from 2015— when it was known as the Seal of Good Housekeeping to 2022:

Provinces: Ilocos Sur; Pangasinan; Isabela; Quirino; Bulacan; Aklan

Cities: Caloocan City; Mandaluyong City; Balanga City; Mabalacat City; City of Bacoor; City of San Pedro; San Carlos City.

Municipalities: Caoayan, Ilocos Sur; Alcala, Pangasinan Sanchez Mira, Cagayan San Mateo, Isabela Saguday, Quirino Plaridel, Bulacan Floridablanca, Pampanga Victoria, Tarlac Carmona, Cavite Barugo, Leyte Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte San Juan, Abra.