COTABATO CITY -- In an exceptional feat, 19 municipalities and a city in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are awardees of the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) this year.
A list posted by the Department of Interior and Local Government – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) in a social media account included the towns of Buldon, Barira, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Paglas, General Salipada K. Pendatun, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Rajah Buayan, Sultan Mastura, Sultan Kudarat and Upi, all in Maguindanao as several of the SLGL awardees.
In other parts of the region, Lamitan City in Basilan was listed as the lone urban center as recipient of the coveted award.
Other SGLG awardees in Basilan are the towns of Maluso and Sumisip. Also SGLG awardees are the towns of Calanogas, Piagapo, Kapatagan in Lanao Del Sur; and Jolo and Talipao in Sulu.
Last year, the ARMM has only six SGLG awardees.
Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, DILG-ARMM secretary, described the remarkable performance of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region as “unprecedented” in the past two years, considering that in 2015, the ARMM had zero passers for the prestigious award.
The SGLG is among the tools used by the national Department of the Interior and Local Government in assessing local government units in terms of their integrity and performance, especially in four core areas. These areas of criteria included financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order.
The conferment of the seal is guided by the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, the General Appropriations Act of 2017, and Administrative Order No. 267 of 1992.
Meanwhile in Region 12, also accorded the SGLG award are Kidapawan City and the towns Kabacan, M’lang and Pigcawayan in North Cotabato province; Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani; Surralah and Tupi in South Cotabato; Tacurong City and towns of Bagumbayan and Columbio in Sultan Kudarat; and Cotabato City. All qualified LGUs will be conferred with a 2017 SGLG marker, a national recognition, and cash. (PNA)
