Having a Public Employment Service Office (PESO) has just become a necessity for local government units (LGUs) aiming to win the coveted Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award.
This, after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Sunday, June 13 the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) adoption of their recommendation for LGUs to establish an institutional PESO for them to qualify for the SGLG.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III lauded the DILG’s decision, saying that the inclusion of the new criteria will scale up the parameters of the seal.
“This is yet another milestone in DOLE’s efforts to improve and strengthen the capacities of PESOs and to fully institutionalize all 1,592 PESOs nationwide,” Bello said.
The SGLG gives recognition to the good performance of the provincial, city, and municipal governments in financial housekeeping and other areas that directly benefit the people. It is also considered the most sought-after award for LGUs.
Under Republic Act (RA) 11292 or the Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019, LGUs are assessed based on 10 governance areas, namely financial preparedness and sustainability; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business friendliness and competitiveness; safety, peace, and order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development, culture, and arts; and youth Development. The new rule is supposed to take effect this year.
“Complemented by the recent publication of the official PESO Qualification Standards and the impending increase in the internal revenue allotment of LGUs, this development moves us even closer to realizing our vision of providing equal employment opportunities across the nation,” Bello further said.
In order to effect the institutionalization of the PESO, the DILG recently issued Memorandum Circular No. 042, series of 2021, adding this area of governance in assessing LGUs to qualify for the annual awards.