23 ARMM LGUs SGLG awardees

COTABATO CITY --- Twenty-three (23) local government units (LGUs) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have been conferred with the 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), awarded by the national Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In an official statement released last October 1, the awardees from the region include the provincial government of Basilan, the city government of Lamitan, and 21 municipal governments acrosss the region.

The ARMM ranks fifth in the country based on the number of SGLG awardees.

“Our efforts this year have resulted to the most number of SGLG passers in the history of the region, but at the end of the day, we all worked hard not only for recognition from the national government,” said ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman.

“We did this because this is the kind of public service that the people of the ARMM deserve,” he said.

The ARMM also has the most number of passers among Mindanao regions.

“We are thankful to our Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman for making sure that we have every opportunity to showcase the excellence of our LGUs in the ARMM,” said Secretary Noor Hafizullah Abdullah of the DILG-ARMM.

Secretary Abdullah also noted that the DILG-ARMM has consistently worked on their good governance targets since October last year.

The SGLG awardees from the ARMM in the municipal category this year are: Maluso and Sumisip in Basilan; Buadiposo-Buntong, Kapatagan, Piagapo, Taraka, and Wao in Lanao del Sur; Barira, Buldon, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Paglas, Guindulungan, Matanog, Parang, Shariff Aguak, South Upi, Sultan Kudarat, and Upi in Maguindanao; Talipao in Sulu; and Sibutu and Simunul in Tawi-tawi.

To be a recipient of an SGLG award, an LGU needs to meet standards set by the national government, which include improvements on performance, accountability, transparency, and participation. These encompass three core assessment areas: Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one from essential assessment areas, namely Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Peace and Order, or Environmental Management.

“We salute our staff and all the ARMM agencies who helped us achieve this year’s feat,” said Governor Hataman.

Just three years ago, in 2015, ARMM had no SGLG passer. Following good governance initiatives of the regional government, the region had six passers in 2016, which then significantly increased to 22 in 2017.

The ARMM government under Governor Hataman’s administration has made it a priority to provide better services to the region’s constituents, especially through the ARMM LGUs. (Bureau of Public Information – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)