Benflor J.

Biong

DILG PPAs: Anchor to Development

Assignment no. 7

May 4, 2022

Executive Summary

Our municipal mayor has been deliberate with his intention to pass this year’s SGLG.

However, one of its department heads raised his distrust and comment on the relevance

of SGLG, saying that it’s such one of the awards program out there. My recommendation

of course is for LGU to pass the SGLG.

Recommendation, Solution, and Justification

To address the reluctance of one of the department heads on the relevance of SGLG, I

would handle the situation in a professional way by staying calm and balanced. If it’s my

time to speak, I would first commend the municipal mayor of his eagerness to pass for

this year’s Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG). Afterward, I would also

acknowledge all those who are present at the session and give them the respect they

deserve. After I’m done with my pleasantries, I would then turn my attention to the one

who have raised his second thoughts of the SGLG. The first thing that I would do is to

respectfully call him by name and request to speak his mind the deeper reason for his

distrust and comment on the relevance of the SGLG by saying that it’s such one of the

awards program out there. When he is about to speak, I would listen very carefully to his
point of arguments. After he is done expressing his thoughts, I would then present my

counter proposals as to why the municipality should join the SGLG.

During my presentation, I would position the program to its strength, opportunity, and

advantages. Below would be my key messaging in presenting the significance of what

we do in the SGLG:

True indeed that SGLG is an award, but not like any awards program out there. First, it

is now a law by virtue of RA 11292. Second, what makes it unique and different is not

only the prestige and honor that an LGU could get, but more importantly, a stamp of

approval from the clamor of the people for integrity and performance in public service.

Just like working in a company where the ultimate goal is to satisfy their clients, so too is

the nature of SGLG. Our client is the people and they must be satisfied with our work as

public official. This might be a cliché to say but the people are the ones who pay our

salary through the taxes they paid, so it is their right to demand to us to be accountable

and transparent of the work we do. Thus, for the municipality to be a champion of good

local governance, the DILG is a willing partner to help you achieve it. Together, we will

receive the stamp of approval from our client, the people.

The DILG has come up with an outcome framework to achieve our goal of good local

governance aim towards sustainable development oriented-LGUs, if all other sub-

sectoral outcomes are present. SGLG is actually a tool or mechanism for assessing the

performance of LGU in governance aimed towards achieving the organizational outcome

of accountable, transparent, participative, and effective local governance. It has 10 areas

for assessment, namely: Good Fiscal or Financial Administration or Financial

Sustainability; Disaster Preparedness; Social Protection and Sensitivity Program; Health

Compliance and Responsiveness; Programs for Sustainable Education; Business

Friendliness and Competitiveness; Safety, Peace and Order; Environmental

Management; Tourism, Heritage Development, Culture and Arts; and Youth

Development. As you can observed, SGLG relates to other programs of the LGU, thus,

form part of the organizational outcome that the LGU is trying to achieve. If an LGU

which, according to the assessment of the DILG, complies, qualifies, and passes all

assessment criteria as provided in Section 7 of this Act, shall be conferred and awarded

the SGLG and granted the corresponding incentive as provided under Section 11 of this

Act. Those who will qualify shall receive an incentive from a special account under

General Appropriations Act (GAA) called the “SGLG Fund.” The best part of the

assessment is that once it is done, the DILG can now identify the local governance gaps

of the municipality. The department can now provide technical assistance for capacity-

building on identified gaps if it did not qualify for the SGLG award.

Before I end my presentation, I would then ask the department who has the second

thought of the SGLG for his comments. If he is still not convinced, then I would turn the

matter to the Local Chief Executive for his decision.

If the LCE decides to join, I would make sure that I’m always on top of the situation once

the assessment starts so that it gets implemented prudently in the municipality. To

achieve the organizational outcome of Transparent, Accountable, Participative, and

Effective local governance, I would provide technical assistance as to what documents

should be submitted/forward for assessment by providing them with technical guide

notes, and other assistance if need be.