Model in excellence for local governance

DAVAO ORIENTAL — In conferring the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) award to Davao Oriental as the sole winner in the Davao Region, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that the province has become a model for excellence in local governance, describing DavOr as “business-friendly, competitive, environment-protective, climate change adaptive, disaster-resilient and socially-protective Local Government Unit.” Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang personally received the prestigious award at the Manila Hotel on 29 November 2017. As an awardee, Davao Oriental is conferred with a 2017 SGLG marker to be installed at the hall of the Provincial Capitol. Moreover, the province also received a “special distinction” after it consistently bagged the good governance awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The DILG says it is a “unique symbol or mark of outstanding achievement.”

The DILG also says that as an SGLG awardee, Davao Oriental is eligible to access the Performance Challenge Fund of the national government to finance local development initiatives in furtherance of national goals and strategic thrusts. According to DILG Officer-in-Charge, Catalino Cuy, this year’s SGLG awardees “really have to put in a lot of hard work to get the Seal, not just because it is something that will give them prestige, but more importantly, because the people deserve good governance and the quality services from the government. For Governor Dayanghirang, meaningful participation of the people is a major factor behind the success of his programs. Without the people’s support, he says, even the most compelling vision will not have any hope of turning into a reality but the provincial government must provide fast and honest service to the residents, tourists and investors, to improve the living standards of the people who are now “imbibing the culture of excellence in good governance.” (Ferdinand Zuasola | Contributor)