CAGAYAN de Oro City is optimistic about receiving the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award for the second time under the leadership of Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy. This hope was expressed by the city government following their first win last year.
City Administrator, lawyer Hilario Roy Raagas, representing Mayor Uy, shared this positive outlook as he even mentioned that the results of the SGLG team's assessment of various city hall departments are expected to be announced in August or September this year.
Under Republic Act 11292, the SGLG is an award, incentive, and recognition-based program of the DILG that acknowledges the outstanding performance of local government units in various areas of governance.
The award encourages LGUs to continuously improve public services by upholding the principles of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Recently, an SGLG assessment was conducted by the DILG regional office, led by Assistant Regional Director Yvete Tolentino-Sunga, at the City Tourism Hall.
This assessment is crucial in determining whether the city meets the high standards required for the award.
Tolentino-Sunga highlighted that the city's victory in the Seal of Good Local Governance last year is proof of the high quality of services provided by the local government to the public. This achievement has set a benchmark for the city's governance.
Mayor Uy expressed his gratitude to the city hall employees for their efforts in delivering genuine services to the community.
He also challenged each department to expand their services further to meet the needs of city residents.
Last year, Cagayan de Oro made history as a first-time SGLG awardee.
City Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy and his delegation proudly accepted the prestigious award from Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos during the national awarding ceremony held at Manila Hotel on December 14, 2023.
"The SGLG award is a significant recognition of the city's commitment to good governance, transparency, and efficient public service," said the city mayor's office chief of staff Sheila Lumbatan.
Cagayan de Oro City has been implementing various programs and initiatives to improve its performance in these areas.
"The city has been working to improve its financial management by implementing a performance-based budgeting system," said Lumbatan.
She added that the city has also been investing in disaster preparedness measures, such as building evacuation centers and training disaster response teams.
In addition, the city has been working to improve its social protection programs by providing financial assistance to poor families and senior citizens, she said.
The city has also been working to improve peace and order by increasing the number of police officers and implementing community-based crime prevention programs.
Lumbatan also said it serves as a motivation for the local government to continue improving and providing the best possible services to its citizens.
"As the city awaits the results of this year's assessment, the local government remains hopeful and dedicated to maintaining the standards that earned them their first SGLG award," according to Lumbatan.
She added that the community is also encouraged to support these efforts, as collective action is key to achieving such milestones. (With a report from CIO)
