The Caloocan City and Navotas City local governments were awarded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) in a ceremony held at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan received the DILG’s award, which the city received for the sixth consecutive year, along with Vice Mayor Karina Teh, District 1 Representative Oscar “Oca” Malapitan, City Administrator Engineer Oliver Hernandez, and other city officials.

"We are very grateful for this recognition, and we share this distinction with our fellow civil servants in the City Government of Caloocan. I know firsthand how hardworking and dedicated our employees are, especially amid the pandemic and the challenges it has brought in, shaping our services to be more sustainable and accessible to the public,” the mayor said.

Caloocan City was among the five Metro Manila local government units (LGU) cited with the SGLG for 2022.

It was also awarded P7 million as “Seal of Good Governance Incentive Fund Subsidy” which the city can use to enhance transparency and accountability in all local government transactions, intensify disaster preparedness, cultivate the welfare of vulnerable sectors, ensure the delivery of quality health services, support the vision of quality education for all, promote peace and order, safeguard and preserve the integrity of the environment, boost economic development, foster the value of sustainable tourism and nurture culture and heritage, and stimulate meaningful participation in local governance (according www.dbm.gov.ph).

The city was cited by the national agency for the sixth consecutive year since 2015. The assessment system was halted in 2020-2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the local government said.

The award aims to recognize the LGU’s performance in various key areas including financial administration, environmental conservation, disaster preparedness, social protection and sensitivity, education, health, business-friendliness and peace and order measures, according to the DILG.

It added that out of the 1,752 LGUs in the country that were assessed, 352 (18 provinces, 60 cities, and 274 municipalities) passed the criteria for this year’s SGLG.

“We dedicate all of this to our citizens. Gaya ng lagi ko pong sinasabi, ang lahat ng ating programa, proyekto at mga pagkilala sa ating mga napagtagumpayan ay bahagi ng ating pagnanais na magbigay ng hindi mapapantayang serbisyo sa inyo — para sa inyo po ito, mga Batang Kankaloo (As I always say, all our programs, projects and recognitions of our achievements are part of our desire to provide unparalleled service to you — this is for you, Batang Kankaloo),” Malapitan said.

This year, the city was also cited by the DILG with six urban governance exemplary awards including as “top performer” in its efforts to rehabilitate informal settlers as part of the Manila Bay Clean-up Rehabilitation and Preservation Program (MBCRPP), and a “moderately-compliant rating” under the said program.

It said it also garnered a “functionality rating” in the 2022 Peace and Order Council Performance Audit, a “high functional” rating in the Anti-Drug Abuse Performance Audit (highly-urbanized city category), and two citations for its exemplary performance in the delivery services for children in DILG’s Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit.

According to Malapitan, the recognitions are a testament to the things the city is set to achieve, aligned with its goal to maintain peace and order while gearing towards economic development.

“We will take this as our inspiration moving forward. Greater things are ahead for Caloocan. Sama-sama ang bawat komunidad patungo sa isang progresibo, payapa at panatag na lungsod ( The communities are united towards a progressive, peaceful and secured city),” the mayor said.

The four other Metro Manila LGUs also honored with the SGLG were Muntinlupa, Navotas, Mandaluyong, and Quezon cities.

Navotas City Mayor John Reynald “John Rey” Tiangco thanked the city government employees, officials, and residents for their support and cooperation on the delivery of services for the Navotenos.

”Lahat po ng mga pagkilala na ating natanggap ay sama-sama po nating nakamit. Dahil sa inyong patuloy na suporta at aktibong pakikilahok, nakapaghahandog ang ating pamahalaang lungsod ng mga serbisyong nararapat para sa mga Navoteno. Maraming salamat po sa inyo! ( We achieved all these recognitions together. Because of your continued support and active participation, our city government is able to provide proper services for the Navotenos. Thank you very much!),“ Tiangco said in a Facebook post.