SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija — The province of Nueva Ecija, including one city and 10 other towns bagged the prestigious “2022 Seal of Good Local Governance” (SGLG) Award being bestowed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government on local government units (LGUs) which surpassed all the criteria under its 10 “All-In” governance areas.

It was the third SGLG award for Nueva Ecija under Gov. Aurelio M. Umali which earlier copped the award in 2018 and 2015.

In this town, Mayor Arvin C. Salonga expressed elation after learning the news that San Antonio again got the award this year.

He thanked all his men who contributed to the documentation and validation that led to capturing the said recognition for the third time after twice getting it in 2019 and 2017 under his watch.

Also adjudged 2022 SGLG passers were the towns of Talavera, Cabiao, Cuyapo, Guimba, Llanera, Rizal, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, and Zaragosa and San Jose City.

Talavera mayor Nerito S. Santos Jr. said it was the fifth SGLG award for the first class town. He said the town is a consistent SGLG passer having been adjudged as a “Hall of Famer” during the watch of former mayor-turned-vice mayor Nerivi Santos-Martinez, who bagged the award for four consecutive times.

San Jose City Mayor Mario “Kokoy” Salvador was jubilant in winning the award for the third time since first snaring it twice in 2019 and 2018.

He said it became “more special” with only San Jose City bagging the most-coveted LGU award among Nueva Ecija’s five component cities which also include Cabanatuan, Palayan, Muňoz and Gapan.

The SGLG is the highest accolade the DILG gives to LGUs in the agency’s pursuit to raise the bar higher for local governance focusing on 10 “All-In” key areas such as financial administration; 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.

Awardees were entitled to a package of incentives called “Performance Challenge Funds” which the DILG provides to LGUs in the form of financial grants for local development projects — P7 million for the province; P5 million for city and P3 million for municipality.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico