Editorial

The challenge behind SGLG

A number of local government units in Region XII bagged the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance or SGLG. Cotabato City is one of the awardees as it exceeded the core and essential areas of governance, which are the criteria for the citation. The award system helps push people or organization to excel in performance because of incentives and prestige. It draws attraction for social and economic development because governance is at best which developers and investors find wanting.

We give credit to whom it is due --- our local government officials and people behind governance and the support of the various sectors who would not settle for less we could have. We want our city to make a mark and most liveable. Look for yourselves. The core areas are peace and order, financial administration, social protection, and disaster preparedness. Other than these are the essential areas: environmental management; business friendliness and competitiveness; and tourism, culture, and arts. We touched these marks… we did it.

Services are in place as we feel secure, our coffer is safe and sound, the care for the vulnerable sectors are attended to, and disaster program is at readiness but hoping disaster would not dampen us when it comes but always responsive for the worst. Our city has also been cited as child friendly besides being business friendly and competitive. For these feats, we have received the awards and made a name for our city. Now, the support institutions and sectors and we ourselves have to manage and sustain such core and essential areas; not because there are awards but because we want our city to flourish and fully develop. The SGLG marker and financial award attest to the growing performance of our local government and responsive communities. As our mayor, Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, has said, these feats are of the people and for the people… our support, cooperation, and enthusiasm must be full and given. After all, Cotabato City is the place we live, our own habitat, our own pride.

As we continually grow, challenges further lie ahead and we must readily be abreast with the challenges of social and cultural change. We have to be adaptive or responsive to situations as mere contentment, apathy, or indifference would only leave ushelpless or fall prey to the effects of culture lag. We have to move in the momentum of change as the world hurdles the demands of time and to solve social problems. A change in one necessitates a change in another. We have to be part of the chain of change if we want our lots sustainable and manageable.

The core and essential areas of governance is on our hands as we are all social, cultural, political, economic, and religious human beings. We are the institutions ourselves and we make them that dynamic for our sake.

Be proud and be part of the award system our city can get and achieve. Let’s celebrate the feat.