MAYOR Rolando Uy led City Hall’s bureaucracy in welcoming the assessment team for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) as Cagayan de Oro City reached the third and final stage of the government’s annual incentives program.

In his welcome message to the validation team during the program held at the City Tourism Hall on Thursday, Mayor Uy said the SGLG program is a powerful motivator for local governments like Cagayan de Oro City to strive for excellence in serving their constituents.

“By recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance, we provide LGUs (local government units) with an incentive and recognition they deserve in playing a vital role in local development,” Mayor Uy said as he was joined by Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez and department managers with their staff to welcome the SGLG national validation team.

WELCOME. Mayor Rolando Uy (center) along with his chief of staff Sheila Lumbatan (extreme left), City DILG Director Engr. Jane Docallos (second from left) and Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez were joined by the DILG review team led by Augustus Tabugo, local government operations officer and outcome manager of the DILG office in south Cotabato province, during the opening of the SGLG review program at the City Tourism Hall. CIO photo by Reynan Baylin

The team from the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) was led by Augustus Tabugo, local government operations officer and outcome manager of the DILG office in south Cotabato province. City Hall completed its regional validation process conducted by the DILG last July also held at the City Tourism Hall.

Mayor Uy said he voted for the passage of Republic Act 11292 which created the SGLG program during his tenure as Cagayan de Oro City’s 1st district legislator in the 17th Congress.

“This landmark legislation places a premium on ensuring the competence and dedication of local governments to sustainable development by excelling in various governance performance areas. It’s a testament to our belief that the true agents of development are our local governments,” Uy said as he lauded the City Hall bureaucracy for their efforts in serving the people of Cagayan de Oro.

For his part, Tabugo congratulated City Hall for passing the regional validation process held last July at the City Tourism Hall which elevated the city to the national validation process.

“Your dedication, sacrifices, and hard work have been recognized…may you continue your passion for public service, thank you for working hard,” he said.

The SGLG is awarded to local governments based on their performance in key governance areas like financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for basic sectors, environmental management, business friendliness and competitiveness, and law and order and public safety. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)