The Mandaluyong City local government is once again hailed as one of the top performing local government units (LGUs) in the country during the 2022 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) awarding ceremonies on Wednesday, Dec. 14, held at the Manila Hotel.
Mandaluyong City Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos received the city's SGLG award from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos.
The award signifies the local government's exemplary efforts in improving its public services amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the city government, this is the 6th SGLG given to Mandaluyong since 2015, testifying its unyielding and consistent resolve in promoting transparency, integrity, and innovation in all its programs and initiatives.
It added that Mandaluyong City and Caloocan City are the only LGUs in the National Capital Region (NCR) to achieve the said feat.
Sec. Abalos earlier said that a total of 350 LGUs nationwide will be awarded with the SGLG -- 18 provinces, 60 cities and 272 municipalities -- that passed the stringent SGLG parameters.
“Covid-19 is a huge roadblock in public service yet this year’s SGLG awardees persisted. I congratulate all 350 LGUs for their exemplary performance in delivering quality public service to their localities and for bagging the 2022 SGLG Award. I commend you for your commitment to raising local governance standards despite the challenges brought by the pandemic and other calamities we have faced in recent years,” Abalos said.
Under the SGLG program, Abalos explained that the LGUs must pass the following governance areas: financial administration 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.
In addition to getting this year’s SGLG marker, the LGU awardees are also eligible for the SGLG Incentive Fund to finance their local development initiatives in support of national goals and strategic thrusts.