VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Sur on Friday, November 22, to enhance their efforts for the transparent and accountable implementation of locally funded infrastructure.
This call to action follows the province’s achievement of topping the DILG’s 2024 Regional SubayBAYANI Awards in the provincial category; Vigan City securing 3rd place in the city category; and the LGUs of Cervantes, Nagbukel, Santa Lucia, Galimuyod, San Ildefonso, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Cabugao, San Emilio, and Sinait ranking among the Top 10 in the province.
DILG Ilocos Sur Provincial Director Randy dela Rosa said SubayBAYANI is an annual recognition for LGUs that demonstrate excellence in monitoring and implementing government infrastructure projects.
Dela Rosa then encouraged the winning LGUs to sustain their efforts and ensure that their performance does not decline in the coming years and that they should remain consistent in the initiatives they are proud of.
He said, “LGUs should work on improving their performance in the coming years. Not winning this year doesn’t mean they can’t enhance their capabilities. They still have time to address shortcomings and show their commitment to improvement. For the non-winning LGUs, I encourage them to strengthen their efforts moving forward.”
Dela Rosa added that this is the first time the province has topped the awards, having previously been in third place in 2023, which demonstrates progress in effectively identifying and addressing gaps in result–based monitoring and evaluation of LGU infrastructure projects.
When asked about the factors that may have contributed to the achievement of the provincial government and the LGUs, he answered, “The effectiveness of local project monitoring committees, which consist of members from the engineering office, the budget office, and civil society organizations, among others, is crucial for monitoring and inspecting projects. The engineering and planning office regularly updates program statuses and documents progress, which helps expedite advancements in some LGUs. Their collaboration with the DILG is also essential. Most importantly, the leadership and support of local chief executives are vital for the success of these project monitoring committees.
While there is no direct financial incentive for SubayBAYANI awardees yet, he added that funding institutions like Landbank check if LGUs are Seal of Good Local Governance passers when applying for loans.
“While SubayBAYANI does not offer financial incentives, it can lead to project opportunities. National government agencies recognize the efficiency of LGUs’ implementations. Consequently, LGUs can propose projects for their constituents based on their performance in SubayBAYANI, which can support their requests for grants or financial assistance,” Dela Rosa added.
Governor Jeremias Singson expressed pride in the provincial government’s participation in the SubayBAYANI Awards, underscoring their commitments to effective governance.
Singson said, “Through the SubayBAYANI system, we have strengthened our commitment to transparency and participative governance, ensuring that every project, from infrastructure to community programs, is aligned with the vision of ONE Ilocos Sur. Here in our province, we manage our projects with diligence, monitoring, and evaluation so that every peso spent translates into meaningful change for our communities. This system has allowed us to track progress, address challenges, and continually refine our strategies to better serve our constituents.”
The provincial government of Ilocos Sur and the city government of Vigan qualified for the National SubayBAYANI Award and will attend the awarding on December 2-3, 2024, with the venue yet to be determined. (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
