By Elida Bianca Marcial
Correspondent
August 24, 2017; Thursday, 3:31PM

National validators of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Ms. Laura Lynn Cabarga and Ildefonso Orquejo Jr. visited Angono yesterday, August 23, 2017 to vet on the Municipality of Angono’s 3rd SGLG or Seal of Good Local Governance application.

Cabarga and Orquejo were accompanied by Noel Bartolabac, CESO V, Provincial Director DILG-Rizal; Ms. Phoenix Grant Teodoro, SGLG Provincial Focal Person; Ms. Elaine Laxamana, SGLG Regional Focal Person; and Jo Marile Salonga, LGOO II.

The guests were welcomed by Mayor Gerry Calderon, municipal department heads and employees.

SGLG, which originated from the department’s Seal of Good Housekeeping program in 2010, was introduced by DILG Secretary Mar Roxas in 2014.

This year, the assessors adopted a more stringent criteria by assessing four core areas namely Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection, Disaster Preparedness, and Peace and Order.

Apart from passing the four criteria, the LGU must also pass at least one of the four secondary areas namely Business Friendliness and Competitiveness, Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and Environmental Protection.

Orquejo said the validation includes reviewing the documents, key informant interview and site visit.

The departments that were validated yesterday were Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Business Permit and Licensing Office, Angono Police, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Health Office and Municipal Environmental and Natural Resources Office.

The citizen charter, full disclosure, the ramps and PWD toilets, evacuation centers, early warning system and markers for hazards were checked if they were complete, functioning and accurate.

Roxas has earlier described SGLG as greater challenge to continue good governance practices while providing better service.

“The SGLG symbolizes integrity and good performance of local governments,” he said during the launching of the program in 2014.

Should Angono meet the criteria, this will be the third time the DILG will confer on Angono the SGLG award.

SGLG awardees are entitled to a package of incentives such as the Performance Challenge Fund and access to other national performance-based programs. (With reports from Richard R. Gappi)