The Navotas City government announced on Wednesday, Feb. 8, that it passed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 2022 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) standards for its distinct utilization of the city’s public funds.
“The seal of good financial housekeeping serves as validation of our efforts to spend our budget and finances in a transparent and honest manner while delivering programs and services most beneficial to our constituents,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.
According to the city government, a local government unit (LGU) that passes the GFH is compliant with the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) of Local Budget and Finances, Bids, and Public Offerings.
The FDP requires local governments to fully disclose particular financial documents to keep their constituents informed on how the city’s funds is managed, disbursed, and used, according to the DILG.
It aims to promote honest, transparent and orderly management of public funds and prevent or minimize corruption.
The GFH is a component of the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), a progressive assessment system that recognizes an LGU’s remarkable performance in various areas.
Other components of the SGLG include disaster preparedness; social protection; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business friendliness and competitiveness, safety, peace and Order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development; and culture and the arts and youth development.
The city government also said that receiving the GFH also entails an unqualified or qualified Commission on Audit (COA) opinion of the immediately preceding year.
COA issues audit opinions following an auditor’s conclusion on an LGU or government agency preparation of material financial statements.
The city has obtained unqualified opinion, the highest mark COA can give to an LGU or government agency, for seven consecutive years.
The mayor said that they owe the recognition to the city government employees for their continued commitment to provide quality service to the people, and the residents for their support.