A total of P13 million in incentives was given in separate checks to nine local government units in Negros Oriental after they were earlier named recipients of the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award of the Department of Interior & Local Government.
These are the cities of Tanjay and Dumaguete that each received P3 million, and the municipalities of San Jose, Amlan, Bacong, Manjuyod, Vallehermoso, Dauin and Ayungon, which each got P1 million.
DILG Region 7 Director Ananias Villacorta distributed the checks to the mayors or their representatives, in the presence of their respective treasurers and provincial DILG Officer Farrah Gentuya.
The mayors who were present to receive the checks were Manuel Sagarbarria (Dumaguete), Lawrence Teves (Tanjay City), Juniper Villegas (Vallehermoso), Edsel Enardecido (Ayungon), Carmelo Remollo (San Jose), Dr. Felix Sy (Manjuyod) and Lenin Alviola (Bacong), while Dauin and Amlan sent their representatives.
The Seal of Good Housekeeping Award was earlier given to these LGUs following their sterling performance in year 2011 of which evaluation was made the following year.
DILG Region 7 Director Villacorta explained it took quite awhile for the agency to release the cash incentive due to certain constraints.
The Seal of Good Housekeeping Award is a recognition given to LGUs as an incentive for them to excel in their practice of good governance focusing on transparency, accountability and participation, said Villacorta.
Those who receive the award qualify for the Performance Challenge Fund for LGUs, which shall be given them to be used for identified development projects.
The projects to be funded by the Performance Challenge Fund received by the nine LGUs are: construction of a drainage canal (Dumaguete City); concreting of the Poblacion, Bacong to Timbanga Road (Bacong); Integrated Waterworks System (Dauin); construction of a sea wall (Vallehermoso); concreting of Ruiz Street (Ayungon); construction of White Sand Cottage (Manjuyod); concreting of Carsadang Daan Farm-to-Market Road (Tanjay City); construction of roads leading to the sites for housing/resettlement area and water reservoir (San Jose); and, purchase of rescue vehicle (Amlan).
Director Villacorta encouraged the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award recipients to continue with their exemplary performance so that they may once again qualify for funding under a similar but more stringent program of the DILG.
The Seal of Good Housekeeping Award has scaled up to the Seal of Good Local Governance with stricter criteria for an LGU to qualify for the award, said Director Villacorta.
For the whole month of June, the province of Negros Oriental and its 25 LGUs are being evaluated for the SGLG.
Villacorta explained that a Seal of Good Housekeeping Award recipient has advantages, such as for an LGU to easily obtain a loan if given a certification by the DILG as well as being able to attract external donors.
Meanwhile, the province of Negros Oriental and three of its municipalities, namely, Valencia, Sta. Catalina and Mabinay, have also been named recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping Award, said provincial DILG officer Farrah Gentuya.
However, these LGUs have not received funding but only a plaque each as they are categorized as a first class province and first class municipalities, she added. (PNA/JFP)
