PAGADIAN CITY, May 31 (PIA) - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Office conducted an assessment of the Seal of Local Good Governance (SGLG) for the 26 local government units.

The Regional Assessment Team (RAT), comprised of representatives from the DILG, Philippine Information Agency and Civil Society Organization, evaluated the LGUs from April 20 to May 20 to determine if they meet the criteria of good governance.

Provincial Director Mohammad Taja Arakama said in accordance with the Local Government Code of 1991, LGUs are empowered to enjoy genuine and local autonomy in order to be active partners of the national government in its attainment of national goals.

He also said the national government has implemented Republic Act 11292, which is ‘An act establishing and institutionalizing the seal of good local governance for local government units, and allocating for this purpose the seal of good local governance fund’, to encourage LGUs in engaging in transparency and good governance.

LGUs were assessed on the following criteria: financial administration sustainability, disaster preparedness, social protection and sensitivity, health compliance and responsiveness, sustainable education, business-friendliness and competitiveness, safety, peace and order, environmental management, tourism, heritage development, culture and the arts, and youth development.

After the on-site assessment, DILG with two (2) teams conducted the provincial calibration to review the results and select the LGUs that have passed the SGLG assessment this year.

The SGLG awardees will be conferred with the SGLG marker, eligibility to the SGLG incentive fund and other intervention packages to finance their local development initiatives, and access to other programs and capacity development assistance from the DILG. (RVC/EDT/GCC/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur)