SGLG “All-in”: Raising the bar of Good Local Governance through Upgraded 2018 SGLG Assessment Criteria

In the Department’s earnest desire to raise the standard of good local governance, the assessment criteria on the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) or Pagkilala sa Katapatan at Kahusayan ng Pamahalaang Lokal was scaled up from “4+1” to “ALL-IN’’ this year. Brought about by this upgrade in criteria, indicators, and new strategies, the Provincial Office of DILG-Camarines Sur conducted a one-day Provincial Orientation on the 2018 SGLG last May 4, 2018 at the Avenue Plaza Hotel, Naga City. The activity was participated in the LGU by Provincial/ City/ Municipal SGLG Focal Persons and the DILG Local Government Operations Officers in the province.

To provide the participants with the backgrounder, history and performance trend in good local governance for the last three years, LGOO VII – Cluster Head Angela M. Galvo delivered the context setting and general overview of the program. Also, LGOO II Aliw B. Fajardo, SGLG Provincial Alternate Focal Person laid down the 2018 SGLG documentary requirement checklists for the seven areas, namely: 1) financial administration; 2) disaster preparedness; 3) social protection; 4) social protection; 5) business-friendliness and competitiveness; 6) environmental management; and 7) tourism, culture and the arts.

Upgrades in the assessment criteria was discussed by LGOO VII – Cluster Head Angela Lourdes V. Astor. The specific changes contained in the Data Capture Form was successively conveyed to the participants so as to elicit understanding and encourage clarifications/queries in between the discussion.

LGOO VII Astor further reiterated that despite the elevation of the SGLG assessment criteria from “4+1” to “All-in” which may seem impossible for LGUs/Provincial Government to pass, still the program aims to achieve its core goal of “exacting meaningful results to LGUs [through] compliance to basic laws.”