Cebu gets governance award

For the third consecutive year, the Cebu provincial government has again been awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Province of Cebu previously won the award in 2015 and 2016. Governor Hilario Davide III personally received the award from DILG in Manila Monday night.

“This is another testament to our commitment to good governance. The challenge becomes bigger. We must remain humble, but steadfast and unrelenting in providing needed, quality, and timely services to our constituents,” he said.

The SGLG is a DILG program which recognizes local government units that meet criteria for outstanding governance and are rewarded with additional opportunities and fund benefits. It was launched in January 2014.

Cebu was awarded for its accomplishments in four core assessment areas, namely financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order. The province also passed two of the three essential areas on business friendliness and competition, environmental management, and tourism, culture and the arts.

Davide also urged other LGUs to work harder and to reach out more to their respective constituents. “Dili kini nato makuha kung wala ang pagtinabangay sa gobyerno ug katawhan. Busa atong doblehon pa ang atong paningkamot alang sa kalambuan sa matag Sugboanon. With great pride and humility, I will dedicate this award to the Cebuano people,” he said.

The SGLG awardees can avail of the Performance Challenge Fund, a seal, and access to national government programs like loan grants.

"With the award, Cebu is entitled to access the PCF (grant assistance), preferential treatment in availing loans, and apply for various financial program windows as qualified recipient," reads the Capitol's official page.

Aside from the province of Cebu, the City of Naga, and the towns of Sogod, Samboan, and Tudela in Camotes Island were also among the 448 LGUs that passed the criteria and met the requirement of SGLG; financial housekeeping, social protection, disaster preparedness, environmental management, business friendliness and competitiveness, and peace and order.

In Central Visayas, aside from Cebu, the province of Siquijor and Bohol also received the same award. This year, a total of 28 provinces, 61 cities and 359 municipalities were given the SGLG award and were recognized by DILG.