SGLG Regional Assessment held in Baguio
Mayor Benjamin Magalong ‘rallied the troops’ during the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Regional Assessment Program, June 21, at the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) function hall.
The Mayor declared that the city government will “not give up” and continue to aim for the SGLG that highlights the key traits of transparency, accountability and competence in public service.
“The important thing is that we see a positive transformation and continuous improvement in how we serve the public,” he stressed.
Magalong also thanked local officials, government workers, concerned agencies, civil society organizations and others who continue to cooperate, work hard and support the city in its quest for the SGLG.
For their part, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan expressed the local legislature’s full support to the endeavor through the adoption of needed legislation as did Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cordillera Regional Director Araceli San Jose in guiding the city through the process.
DILG Baguio office chief Millicent Carino said the SGLG primarily looks into 10 Governance Areas: Financial Administration; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity Programs; Safety, Peace and Order; Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Management; Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and the Arts; Programs on Sustainable Education; Health Compliance and Responsiveness; and Youth Development.
She pointed out that the Summer Capital must pass all the Governance Areas composed of various indicators for it to be conferred as an SGLG National Awardee.
During the Assessment Program, a simultaneous onsite inspection of offices and facilities was conducted by composite groups of evaluators led by DILG regional and city offices personnel and representatives from several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
Inspected were Baguio City Hall, CDRRMO, City Camp Lagoon, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, Health Services Office, the materials recovery facility (MRF) and residual containment areas of selected barangays, senior citizen’s center and youth development facility of Irisan barangay, and more.
Also present during the activity were councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales, CDRRMO chief Antonette Anaban, General Services Office head Eugene Buyucan, and others. – Gaby B. Keith
